Despite Atrocities Dalits Never Demanded a Separate State: Rajnath

Rajnath Singh said “some anti-social elements are indulging in nefarious activites in the name of cow protection”.

Rajnath Singh (Photo: Reuters)

Under attack over atrocities against Dalits, the Centre, on Monday, appealed to all the state governments to take strict action against anti-social elements indulging in violent activities in the name of cow protection as it pitched for a united fight against the “perverted mindset”.

In his reply to the issue of violence against Dalits in the name of cow vigilantism, Home Minister, Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that “some anti-social elements are indulging in nefarious activites in the name of cow protection.”

Displeased with his reply, the Congress and the Left members who alleged that the incidents of atrocities against Dalits have increased since the NDA came to power two years back, staged a walk out.

Countering the opposition charge of not doing enough for the Dalits, he said, “What you could not do in 55 years, our government did in last two years”.

Singh insisted that the incidents against Dalits have come down since the Modi government took over and reeled out statistics to buttress the point.

He said the number of registered cases of atrocities against dalits were 39,346 in 2013, they went up to 40,300 in 2014 and thereafter came down to 38,564 in 2015.

There is an illusion that since our government came to power, atrocities against Dalits have gone up. People are always complaining why isn’t the Prime Minister saying anything on the issue. And then people are speculating why did he speak about the Dalit issue at Town Hall and not in the parliament? But did all the Prime Ministers since 1947 talk about every ongoing issue? The Prime Minister may speak or may not speak, but his aura should be such that action is taken against the perpetrators.

Rajnath Singh pointed out instances from Hindu mythology in an attempt to prove that untouchability did not prevail in the ancient times and that Dalits were integrated fully in the society.

I’m quoting from BR Ambekar’s book, he said there was no untouchability in Manu era. Mahabharata and Ramayana, the books that form the foundation of Indian culture and society were both penned by outcasts and untouchables.

He said it was unfortunate that Parliament has to discuss the issue of atrocities on Dalits 70 years after independence. The Home Minister said that laws have been made to protect Dalits, but much is desired to be done.

Rajnath Singh said the Centre has issued advisories to states asking them to take stringent action against people resorting to such atrocities in the name of cow protection.

He praised the work of Sangh parivar affilates Sewa Bharti and Vanvasi Kalyan ashram for working for the cause of Dalits and Adivasis. Saying that Ambedkar and Keshav Baliram Hedgewar were contemporaries, he said while the Dalit icon fought for the socially deprived sections, the RSS founder worked for national renaissance.

Noting that government is totally committed towards the development of Dalits, he said that even Dalits do not dislike being a part of India despite the atrocities that they have been recently facing.

Nobody could dare to call them anti-national and they have never demanded a separate state for themselves.