Oppn won't be able to provoke Dalits: Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Dinesh Sharma today said that the BJP gave top honour to backwards and Dalits and a "distressed" opposition's move to "provoke" Dalits against his party would not be successful.

Sharma made the assertion in an interview to the PTI in the wake of country-wide violent protests on Monday against the Supreme Court's March 20 verdict prohibiting automatic arrests of accused in the cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The stir had claimed two lives in Uttar Pradesh.

"The BJP is the party which gives top honour to the backwards and Dalits. Our Prime Minister, a backward and President, a Dailt are on the top posts due to the BJP. The opposition is distressed as our party gave top priority to these sections of the society besides working on slogan 'sabka saath-sabka vikas' for taking along everyone," said Sharma.

"Though PM and President should not be related with their castes, its truth that it was BJP which was behind them reaching such positions," he added.

On the violent protest held recently in UP, Sharma said, "see the past history of Dalits... they cannot be violent... they were never (so).. The opposition's move to provoke them will not be successful as they know that the BJP is the only party which cared for them."
Asked if he wanted to say that there was Opposition's hand behind the agitation, the deputy CM said, "I am not holding anyone responsible for it. It will come in the police probe. But the circumstances and way in which it was done, raises doubts."
Attacking opposition, Sharma said, "When any poll approaches, a lobboy of so called intellectuals and 'award vapasi' gang become active. After the polls, they are seen nowhere. Our government is committed to the security of all and Dalits are on the priority."
He said, "Law and order is top priority of the state government and any attempt to affect it will be dealt with an iron hand."
DIG Praveen Kumar (Law and Order) had accepted during a press conference that "anti-social elements were engaged in the violence during the protests."