In wake of Dalit unrest, PM invokes Ambedkar

HITS OUT AT OPPN Says govt walking the path shown by Dalit icon Everybody is always ready to do politics in the name of Babasaheb. But nobody gave him the kind of respect like this government did.

NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister

NEWDELHI: No other government has honoured Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, as he reached out to the community after several people died in protests in various states over a Supreme Court order banning automatic arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of marginalised sections.

Speaking at the event marking the inauguration of the new western court annexe that will serve as transit accommodation for members of Parliament, the PM lashed out at the Congress for engaging in politics on Dalit issues.

He also said that the house at 26, Alipur Road, where Ambedkar died, will be dedicated to the nation on April 13, the eve of his birth anniversary.

Modi said that his government was “walking the path shown by Ambedkar” and asked other political parties to follow suit for the sake of India’s development. “At the core of Ambedkar’s ideals is harmony and togetherness. Working for the poorest of the poor is our mission,” the PM said.

Dalit protests broke out earlier this week over the perceived dilution of t he Scheduled Castes/scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 .The Centre on Tuesday moved a review petition in the Supreme Court against the March 20 ruling by the top court, which declined to stay the ruling it said was only meant to safeguard innocent people without affecting the rights of the marginalised communities .

Attacks on vehicles and government property, road and train blockades and clashes with the police were reported from states including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Bihar.

On Wednesday, Modi said that while others (pointing at the Congress) have engaged in politics over Ambedkar’s name, the Ambedkar International Centre was conceived when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister. Modi inaugurated the centre in December.

“Everybody is always ready to do politics in the name of Babasaheb. But nobody gave him the kind of respect and paid tributes to him as much as this government did,” he said.

The Opposition has been demanding a debate on the Dalit issue in Parliament, but ongoing disruptions have not allowed any space for discussions.

In Odisha, BJP chief Amit Shah emphasised that the Centre will neither scrap the reservation policy for SCS and STS in education and jobs nor would it allow anyone to do so.

“Why was the bandh call given when the prime minister assured the people that the Centre would submit a review petition on the Supreme Court judgement...” he said holding the Congress and opposition parties responsible for the deaths reported after the protests.

Shah said a disinformation campaign has been launched that the BJP would withdraw reservations.

“There will not be the slightest change in the reservation policy as set by BR Ambedkar in the Constitution...” he said.