Home Minister Rajnath Singh urged against politicising the issue of atrocities on Dalits and said society must take it as a challenge to bring an end to such incidents. "It is painful that even after 70 years of independence we are still discussing atrocities on Dalits. We cannot deny that there are people from several castes and religion. We should not politicise the atrocities on Dalits," Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha,
“The opposition keeps saying that the Prime Minister should speak on this issue, when he speaks you have a problem that he hasn’t spoken inside Parliament. Whether it is the Prime Minister or a chief minister, his i qbal (integrity) is more important than words. In this case, the government of Gujarat took very strong action. Mr. Modi spoke from the heart in defence of the Dalit community, and I too issued a strong advisory to State governments on the issue, I would advise the opposition to go through it,” he said.
“I want to tell the House that there is an attempt to associate anti-Dalit feelings with this government, and it is wrong and facts bear it out,” he said.
"We can make India world's best country if we consider humanity above all. There are many articles in our Indian constitution for Dalits. But there is a need for effective laws. Our government is working at socio-economic development of the Dalits."
"Just ask yourselves if this is true. It has been happening since the beginning. Show me the data records. I don't want to point fingers at any political party. But in 2013, 39,346 cases were registered against atrocities, 40,300 and 35,564 were registered in 2014 and 2015 respectively," Singh said.
Singh said, "If you check past years, has any PM participated in all parliamentary discussions? When PM spoke on the atrocities and cow vigilantes, I issued an advisory that strict action should be taken against them."
The home minister said, "When India was under the British Rule, no matter how atrocities the community suffered, still they stood by India. They never demanded a separate country. We in the government empathise with the Dalits. For instance, one of the organisations which has been majorly active at the grassroots for the upliftment of Dalits is Seva Bharati, an RSS organisation," Singh said.
"I would appeal all the state governments to take strictest possible action against anti-social elements who try to disrupt the harmony of secular fabric of the country," the home minister said. "People from various castes and communities in India live together. Our ancestors believed in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is one family)," he said.
By Premji
