Rajnath assures expeditious inquiry into Una incident

Terming flogging of Dalit youths in Gujarat as "a stigma on mankind," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured expeditious inquiry into the incident and said the probe has been handed over to the CID crime branch of the state police.

Replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the incidents of atrocities on Dalits in different parts of the country, Singh also strongly condemned derogatory remarks against Mayawati by a now suspended member of his BJP and said he had felt "ashamed" about the remarks.

"We should be concerned about verbal violence as it also hurts," Singh said.

He said the incident of atrocity against Dalits was unfortunate and said 16 persons have been arrested while four police officials have been suspended.

The minister also talked about the crisis of credibility concerning politicians, saying that all political parties should take it up as a challenge.

He also dwelt on the need to associate social and cultural organisations in the task of uplifting weaker sections and said societal issues cannot be solved by leveling allegations.

"If I point out the cases of atrocities against Dalits during Congress government, it would not resolve anything," he said, referring to allegations made by Congress leaders against the National Democratic Alliance government.

Referring to crime statistics about Gujarat mentioned by opposition members in the house earlier, Singh cited crime data to show that there had been more such incidents in opposition ruled states.

Several members participated in the debate pertaining to atrocities committed against the Dalits in the country, in wake of flogging of four Dalits by cow protection vigilantes in Gujarat's Una town on July 11.

--IANS

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