BJP leaders habitual of making derogatory remarks: Punia

Taking a strong exception to suspended BJP state vice president Dayashankar Singh's derogatory remark against BSP supremo

Mayawati, Congress leader PL Punia today said that the saffron party leaders are habitual of making such statements.

Punia said the incident of atrocities against Dalits in Gujarat's Una was 'very saddening', and added that the entire country was enraged by it.

"Their social and political comments are really condemnable sometimes and are too low to speak," Punia told ANI.

"The way the dalits have been assaulted and beaten by gorakh shah dal members, is very sad and inhumane. Whole country is raged on the incident and protests have been carried out all over India. Even the matter has been discussed in the parliament itself," he added.

He also said that Rahul Gandhi's upcoming visit to Una will boost the morale of Dalits.

"Whether it is Hyderabad, or the places where farmers were committing suicide recently. At drought hit areas also he carried out marches. And now if he is going to Una then it is appreciable as it will boost up the morale of the Dalits," Punia said.

Some people claiming themselves to be "gau rakshaks" (cow protectors) thrashed four Dalit youths in Una town in Gir-Somnath district last week, alleging them of killing a cow which they were skinning. The victims said that they were skinning the cow which was already dead.

Video of the incident went viral, sparking protests. A head constable was killed yesterday after a mob attacked police in Amreli town, while some Dalit youths tried to commit suicide protesting the incident. Dalit rights organisations called for a state-wide shutdown in Gujarat in protest over the incident.