Centre should take sympathetic view on Dalits' stir:CM

The Centre should take a sympathetic view on the ongoing agitation launched by Dalits over alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said today.

Rao urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to place before the Supreme Court on how the guidelines issued by it are "punching holes" in the Act, an official release said here.

He appealed to Modi to speak to theChief Justice.

Rao said the country should stand by Dalits, who, he said, have been economically, socially and politically suppressed for generations together.

He said governments have a bounden duty to ensure that the laws and acts made for the uplift of Dalits should be implemented properly.

The judiciary should take into account the feelings and opinion of the Dalits, who are "crestfallen" with the guidelines, Rao said.

The verdict is being widely criticised by Dalits and the Opposition who claim that the Act's "dilution" would lead to more discrimination and crimes against them.