Attacks on Dalits increased since BJP came to power: CPI(M)

Condemning the alleged assaults on Dalits, CPI(M) today claimed there has been a rise in the number of attacks on the community members ever since BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre.
In a statement, the party Politburo insisted on the Centre initiating a political dialogue and call an all-party meet to discuss the Kashmir unrest. It also suggested the government to resume dialogue with Pakistan on all outstanding issues.
"There has been an increase in the attacks on Dalits ever since this BJP government assumed office at the Centre.
"The BJP-led government at the Centre is not only contributing to the alarming increase in the number of such incidents but also sharply escalating communal polarisation, attacks against Dalits and women," the statement, issued after conclusion of the Politburo meeting, said.

After the lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq in Dadri last year over charges of beef storage and consumption, several incidents of cow vigilante groups attacking Dalits and minority community members have been reported from various parts of the country including BJP-ruled Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the Politburo said.
"Shockingly, in all these incidents police and administration have remained mute spectators and at times even aiding the culprits and lodging cases against the victims of these attacks," it alleged.

The party also expressed concern over casualties caused during the Kashmir unrest, which has claimed 49 lives till now, and demanded those responsible for "killing innocent unarmed" protesters in the Valley, be held accountable.

"Adequate compensation to all families which have suffered loss of lives and rehabilitation of the injured by ensuring their means of livelihood must be undertaken immediately.
"The need to take effective steps to check cross-border infiltration cannot be an excuse for the use of unwarranted force against the civilian population. AFSPA must be restricted to border areas and withdrawn from the rest of the state," it said.
Meanwhile, sources said the Politburo also discussed a letter by party veteran from Kerala, V S Achuthanandan, to the central leadership, questioning the appointment of Harvard Professor Gita Gopinath as economic advisor to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He held that Gopinath's "neo-liberal" views are "contrary" to Left ideology.

The CPI(M) party secretary alleged that BJP was
trying to create a division among the tribals for their narrow political agenda and trying to persuade anti-Left tribal parties like Indigenous Political Front of Tripura (IPFT) and Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) to join their fold.
Tribals constitute one third of the state's population, he said
A two-day state committee meeting of the party ended on Friday where it was decided to sharpen the political and ideological movement against the anti-Left parties in the state and to protect communal harmony, peace and development of the state.