Keeping Dalits at the bottom in DNA of BJP, RSS: Rahul Gandhi

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Apr 02, 2018 : As Dalits across the country protest against the dilution of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said it’s in the DNA of the BJP to keep the community "at the bottom" of the Indian society, and expressed his solidarity with the nationwide Bharat Bandh.

 

"Keeping Dalits at the bottom of the Indian society is in the DNA of the BJP and the RSS. Those who challenge this attitude are suppressed with violence," Rahul tweeted in Hindi, with hashtag #BharatBandh.

Rahul Gandhi said he salutes the protesters on the streets. "Thousands of Dalit brothers and sisters are out on the streets demanding their rights from the Modi government. We salute them," Rahul posted.

On March 20, the Supreme Court ruled that the arrest of an accused under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is not mandatory, and recourse to coercive action would be only after preliminary inquiry and sanction by the competent authority.

The Supreme Court observation was widely slammed by the Opposition, and even some of the BJP leaders, who demanded that the Centre must file a review petition. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said it has been filed.

"I wish to convey that today we have filed a petition on the judgment by Supreme Court on the SC/ST Act. We have filed a comprehensive review petition which will be presented before the court by the senior lawyers of the government," Prasad told reporters.

Meanwhile, reports said Rahul Gandhi will attend a Dalit Sammelan in New Delhi on April 23 in the wake of the Supreme Court’s order diluting some stringent provisions of the SC/ST Act.

The Congress will also organise a protest on April 4 at Parliament Street against the verdict.


courtesy: Yahoo