Congress slams PM Modi for leaving out Dalit atrocities in 'Mann Ki Baat'

The Congress on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not raising the issue of Dalit atrocities in his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', adding that his silence over the Una incident reflected his support to it.

"Una has been a horrific incident. It has shown the very dirty anti-schedule caste, anti-Dalit underbelly of the BJP. It shows its 'manovadi' nature and what it really is. It's surprising that the Prime Minister in 'Mann Ki Baat' did not even speak about all the horrific incidents that are happening in the past one month to a week," Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI.

Taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for being a 'great pass master in quoting Sanskrit', Dikshit quoted a Sanskrit phrase back to the Prime Minister.

"Probably, I think the Prime Minister supports what happened in Una. There is a statement in Sanskrit that says 'Maunam Sammati Lakshanam'. By keeping quiet, you are actually supporting what happened there. The BJP seems to be a great pass master in quoting Sanskrit all the time. I am quoting back to the Prime Minister and saying that perhaps you were happy with what happened in Una," he added.

Reacting on the resignation of BJP's Dalit leader Babu Pandvadra, Dikshit termed the whole episode as a 'drama'

"I would like to ask that why these MPs are now realising all this? Did they not know which party are they joining? Initially they just wanted to become MLA, at that the greed for the post mattered. I do not consider this protest seriously. All of it is a drama," he added.

Aggrieved by his own party's inability to help get justice for Dalit atrocity victims, Pandvadra resigned from the primary membership of BJP along with his 200 supporters yesterday.

The BJP has been facing heat over the flogging of Dalit community members in Gujarat's Una on July 11 for alleged cow slaughter, a state where the saffron party is in power.