Deal firmly with those indulging in atrocities against Dalits

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja today criticised the way in which the BJP-led government was handling atrocities against Dalits in the country and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to firmly deal with such forces.
Referring to Modi's statement in Hyderabad last week that "If you have to shoot, shoot me, but not my Dalit brothers",he said "this is not the way the Prime Minister has to speak" on the issue. Instead he should act as per law against such "manuvadi" forces targeting Dalits and women in the country.
"Modi should say the law of the land will be upheld. The law of the landis the Constitution. The Constitution will be upheld.Whoever maybe the person, whatever may be the organisation, if they act in violation to the Constitution, they will be taken to task," he told reporters here.

Raja said "Dalits and women feel insecure" under BJP rule as "Hindutva forces are trying to impose Manuvad ideas" on them.
"This is a kind of fascism. This has to be fought. This has to be resisted," he said.
Making an emotional appeal, Modi had asked people to protect and respect Dalits who have for long been neglected by society.
His comments came at a time when the NDA government is facing flak over incidents of violence against Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Modi had asked what right the perpetrators had to exploit Dalits and said unity in society should be priority.