Praful Patel announces Rs 2 lakh aid for Gujarat Dalit family

Former Union Minister Praful Patel, who also visited the Dalit family in Gujarat where four boys were beaten up, on Thursday announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh for them, terming it a small assistance from him and his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

He suspected a larger conspiracy behind the state-wide violence that erupted over the last week to damage the social fabric of the country and malign the image of a progressive Gujarat.

Patel, whose visit almost followed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, said the beating up of Dalit youth was unfortunate and shameful. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also expected to visit the Dalits on Friday.

Patel charged the Gujarat Government with delaying action against the perpetrators of violence against members of the Dalit community.

"Even the Chief Minister visited the victims as late as ten days after the incident," he pointed out, adding that the violent protests across the state were further maligning the image of Gujarat.

He went to Rajkot to inquire about the condition of those admitted to hospital who consumed poison to protest the Una incident before leaving the State.

--IANS

desai/vd