Worried BJP mulls damage control

Apprehending that the dalit groups’ anger over dilution of the SC/ ST ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act could hit the BJP hard in poll- bound Karnataka and other states, the Modi government on Monday asserted that its “commitment to SC/ ST welfare is unwavering and time tested”.

The party also vowed to argue the matter with “full authority” in the Supreme Court for the reconsideration of its March 20 verdict which was perceived by many as “anti- dalit”.

The government filed a review petition in the apex court against the court’s earlier order. Amid violent protests by dalit organisations in different parts of the country, including BJP- ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, party president Amit Shah held a meeting at the party headquarters to assess the situation.

The meeting was also attended by Union minister Piyush Goyal and national general secretaries Anil Jain and Bhupendra Yadav. The BJP also listed out the work done by the NDA government for the SC/ ST communities.

Supporting the “Bharat Bandh”, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet, “Keeping dalits at the lowest rung of Indian

It’s in the DNA of RSS/ BJP to keep dalits at the lowest rung of Indian society. I salute dalit brothers and sisters who have hit the streets to demand from the Modi govt the protection of their rights — Rahul Gandhi, Cong prez

society is in the DNA of the RSS/ BJP. Whoever dares challenge this position is suppressed with violence... thousands of my Dalit brothers and sisters have come out on the streets to demand protection of their rights from the ( Narendra) Modi government. We ( Congress and I) salute them.”

BSP chief Mayawati accused the BJP of indulging in politics of caste.

“The central government took a lot of time in filing the review petition against the SCs/ STs Act judgment. Had they filed the review petition in time, there wouldn’t be any protests or Bharat Bandh,” she said.