Dalit Dissent Mounts as Another BJP MP From UP Writes to PM Modi

Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya has reportedly called the growing dissent a sign of democracy.

As the dissenting voice among Dalit BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh grows louder, yet another lawmaker from the scheduled castes has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising his party’s government for not doing any work towards the ‘welfare of Dalits in its four years in power.’

Yashwant Singh, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Nagina penned a strongly-worded letter to the prime minister on 2 April, in which he accused the government of not having taken any steps towards the welfare of the Dalit community.

According to a Times of India report, Singh, in his letter, wrote,

When Narendra Modi became the PM and made a statement that the BJP government will work for the welfare of the poor, Dalits and OBCs, it created hope in the heart of us all. However, nothing has been done for Dalits by the central government so far.

Mentioning the passage of the quota bill, reservation in private jobs, and pending appointments of SC/ST members as issues of ‘primary importance’, Singh allegedly said that the needs of the community were being ignored by the government.

Singh also opined that the lack of representation of the community in courts had led to verdicts that were ‘aimed at curtailing their rights.’

Meanwhile, deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya told TOI that the dissent among the Dalit lawmakers from the party was not a revolt, but a reflection of democracy.

This is not a revolt, but democracy. All leaders have a right to put their problems before the PM.

In yet another instance of dissent, BJP MP Udit Raj raised his voice against the alleged atrocities against Dalits in various parts of the country in the wake of the violent protests during the Bharat Bandh earlier this week.

Reports are pouring in that those Dalits who participated in agitation on 2 April are being tortured and it must be stopped," he said in a tweet.

Dalits r tortured at large scale after 2ndApril country wide agitation . Peoplefrom badmer,jalore,jaipur,gwalior,meerut , bulandshahr,karoli &other parts calling that not only anti reservatists but police also beating &slapping false cases.

— Dr. Udit Raj, MP (@Dr_Uditraj) April 7, 2018

Udit Raj is MP from the North West Delhi constituency.

The dissent expressed by Singh and Raj come after several other BJP MPs from the Dalit community, particularly from Uttar Pradesh, have come out alleging atrocities that the Dalits have been facing across the state, especially after the nationwide protests.