Saffron brigade trying to suppress Dalits, says Maya

LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Wednesday slammed the BJP government in Maharashtra for the Bhima-Koregaon violence and demanded strict action against the culprits.

She alleged that the saffron brigade was trying to suppress the Dalit community.

In a press release, Mayawati condemned the attack on Dalits, who had gathered to participate in the 200th year of BhimaKoregaon Saurya Diwas. Lakhs of Dalits had gathered at BhimaKoregaon to pay tributes to the Dalits who had laid down their lives in the 1818 battle between British East India Company and the Peshwa’s forces.

Instead of providing protection and facilities to the assembled Dalits, BJP leaders instigated members of the saffron brigade to attack them.

“Without a conspiracy, and protection of BJP leaders, the anti-social elements could not have attacked the Dalits,” she said.

Terming the judicial inquiry ordered by the Maharashtra government as eyewash, Mayawati said if the state government is really concerned about the welfare of Dalits then it should order crackdown on the elements involved in the attack.

She added that atrocities on

› In UP, too, the BJP government tried to push the state into caste violence after clashes between Dalits and upper caste people in Sabbirpur village in Saharanpur district of West UP MAYAWATI, BSP chief

Dalits had increased in BJPruled states.

“In Uttar Pradesh, too, the BJP government tried to push the state into caste violence after clashes between Dalits and upper caste people in Sabbirpur village in Saharanpur district, she said.

Expressing grief over the death of a youth and injury to a large number of people during the Bhima- Koregaon violence, the BSP chief said the state government should provide financial assistance to the family of the deceased and medical aid to the injured.

She said Bhima- Koregaon has special importance for the Dalit community after Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar paid tribute on January 1, 1927 to members of Mahar (Dalit) community who, fighting for the British, laid down their lives on the battlefield.