Atrocities on Dalits: PM's statement 'dramatic', he must act, says NCP

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his belated comments on atrocities on Dalits under the garb of cow protection, saying had he spoken earlier incidents like Una and Aklaq lynching could have been averted.

"Merely making such statements will not suffice; it is only a dramatic expression. We respect Prime Minister Modi's sentiment, had he spoken this a year ago, many more lives would have been saved and so many incidents would have been averted," NCP leader Majeed Memon told ANI.

Stating that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers, MLAs and MPs have been making provocative statements, he urged the Prime Minister to take action against these people.

"The Prime Minister must have said that all incidents that occurred till today must be dealt with firmly by law. Further, state governments must lodge FIRs and strict prosecution and punishment should be given. Only then the message will go," he said.

He sought concrete action from the Prime Minister against his MPs and MLAs, who are making provocative statements.

In an unusual expression of solidarity with the Dalit Community that faced the wrath of so-called 'cow protectors' in Gujarat recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday, went hammer and thongs at them, saying if they want to shoot, they should shoot him, but not his Dalit brothers.

The Prime Minister further said, "Politics of breaking the society is not good for the country and discrimination among human beings is not acceptable to us. Shanti, Ekta, Sadbhavana are central to the progress of the nation. We have to protect the marginalised and the Dalits. It is our duty.