But the numbers “came down significantly after 2001 and the state government (under the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi) deserves to be complimented”.
Advertisement
Seven from a Dalit family were attacked, with four of the youth being paraded half-naked in Una town and beaten up in public view on July 11, for apparently skinning a dead cow.
Later, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said a discussion on the issue will be taken up on Thursday. He added that nine persons have been arrested in this connection.
Besides aid, she said, the Gujarat government will provide financial help to these families for the construction of houses and toilets.
In the din, Gehlot could only be heard as saying that the state government had taken prompt action over the incident and arrested the accused persons.
“During Congress rule in Gujarat number of cases of atrocities against Dalits were high, sharp decline since BJP is in power”, Singh said.
About the proposed visits of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders in Gujarat, Anandiben said they should not give a political colour to the whole issue.
Several towns in Gujarat have been rocked by protests since last week’s beating incident. K Suresh (Cong) raised the issue in Zero Hour during which Congress members remained in the Well during protesting against the incident. Dalits are actually not involved in slaughter of cows, but are only doing their traditional business of leather, while they (vigilante groups) refrain from confronting those involved in slaughter, they said. “Have faith in our government”, Patel said, speaking to reporters in Gandhinagar.
On July 11, four Dalit youth were severely beaten up in Una town in Saurashtra region of Gujarat for skinning a dead cow, which has caused nationwide outrage after the video went viral.
KPCC working president, Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday said he would soon speak to CM Siddaramaiah about hastening police action against Mr Marigowda, accused of abusing Mysuru DC Shika.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack in Gujarat and said Mr Modi was committed to the protection of low-caste people. “It would have been nice if they themselves would have filed an FIR (first information report) against him”, Mayawati said.
Advertisement
It was an irony that such incidents targeting the weaker section were happening so many years after the country’s independence.
