Amarinder questions PM's 'silence' on anti-Dalit violence

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today condemned the incidents of violence on Dalits in the country and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" over the issue.
"There appears to be a dangerous pattern behind the incidents of verbal and physical abuse and violence on Dalits everywhere which are either being ignored or encouraged at the peril of sparking off a caste war in the country," alleged the former Punjab Chief Minister in a statement issued here.
Questioning the "silence" of the Prime Minister on the matter, he wondered why had he not intervened till now.
"How can you shut your eyes when your fellow countrymen are being treated with such brutality and cruelty," he asked Modi.

Referring to the "flogging and parading" of three Dalit youths in a Gujarat town by members of a "self-styled" cow vigilante group, Amarinder claimed there was "genuine anger and outrage" not only among the Dalits but all the "well-meaning" Indians as regards the direction the country was headed for.
He also condemned the "abusive" language used by former Uttar Pradesh BJP vice president Dayashankar Singh against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, describing it as "most condemnable and deplorable".

No punishment will be enough for the person who used such language against the four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, he added.

Expressing concern over such incidents, the Punjab Congress chief urged the Prime Minister to personally intervene in the matter.
"Given the alarming sensitivity of the situation, it calls for urgent intervention at the highest level, lest the country is pushed into a caste war," he warned.
He also announced that his party will stage protests across Punjab against violence and atrocities on Dalits.
The protests will be staged at all the district headquarters on Sunday, while he will personally lead one at Kartarpur, said Amarinder.