Paswan slams Congress for playing politics over Dalit atrocities

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday hit out at Congress for playing politics over atrocities on Dalits, and said that its leaders visited Hyderabad University after student Rohit Vemula's suicide but never did so when the atrocities on Dalits took place in the past.

"Congress leaders visited Hyderabad University after student Rohit Vemula's suicide. Everyone shed fake tears on his suicide but they (the Congress leaders) did not go to Bathe village in Bihar where 58 Dalits were massacred in 1997 and also Miyapur village where 34 Dalits were killed in 2000," Paswan said while speaking in Parliament during a discussion under rule 193 on the atrocities against Dalits in the country.

Dalit student Rohith Vemula had hanged himself in a hostel room on January 17.

Paswan further said that even after 69 years of Independence the condition of Dalits was not good in the country.

"Even after 69 years of Independence people who make shoes do not have sleepers to wear, people who weave clothes do not have clothes to cover their body and people who are engaged in the task of cleanliness live at the places with least facilities."

"I don't agree with the thought that people from a particular community should lift the carcasses of cows. The exploitation of Dalits should be stopped," Paswan said, adding, "The NDA government is working towards upliftment of Dalits."

He stressed that the issue of atrocities on Dalits was not related to any particular party or government and said that efforts should be made to stop the exploitation of Dalits.

"This issue is not related to any particular political party or the government. There should be no politics on this issue," he said.

--IANS

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