Terming the members of the vigilante group as “BJP goons”, Mr. Kejriwal alleged that they used sticks belonging to police personnel to assault “poor Dalits who were skinning a dead cow, which is their century-old occupation”.
Advertisement
Why was Gujarat Congress silent on Dalit issue, BSP chief Mayawati asked and said the incident was shameful.
While most opposition members were standing near their benches, members from Congress were in the Well raising slogans like “daliton pe atyachar band karo” (stop atrocities on Dalits), “Gujarat model shame shame” and “sarkar jawab do” (the government must answer).
Even as Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien was scrutinising the notices, agitated opposition members trooped near the chairman’s podium, shouting slogans against the government.
The Congress’ charge evoked a sharp reaction from the government which cited figures of atrocities against dalits during Congress rule. The state government is also providing medical care and compensation to the victims, he said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and the state social justice minister are likely to visit Una today.
The minister also said probe was ordered in the incident, and the report will come in two months.
He expressed regret on the death of the Dalit who consumed poison. “We will give all assistance, including financial, to them”, he said. “This challenge can only be overcome when people of nation will nt merely see us as political workers but as socio-political workers”, he added.
K. Suresh of the Congress raised the issue in the Zero Hour during which Congress members remained in the Well, where they had stationed themselves as soon as the House had convened for the day.
Advertisement
When the house met for question hour at 12 p.m., the scene was the same, forcing Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the house first till 12.31, and then till 2 p.m.
