Lucknow: A war of words broke out between the BJP and BSP in the Vidhan Parishad over the issue of alleged atrocities on Dalits, on Thursday. BSP legislators said the BJP was ignoring incidents of violence against Dalits, while the latter shot back saying the BSP was worried as 90% Dalits voted for the BJP in the recent UP assembly elections.
BSP members raked up a recent incident in which a Dalit girl in Barabanki was raped on July 2. BSP leader in Vidhan Parishad, Sunil Kumar Chittor said the police had yet to take cognizance of the crime.
The saffron party also launched an indirect attack on BSP , accusing it of creating confusion among members of the upper caste with slogans like `Tilak Tarazu Aur Talwar...Inko Maaro Jootey Chaar', referring to Brahmin, Vaish and Kshatriya communities.
BSP members raked up a recent incident in which a Dalit girl in Barabanki was raped on July 2. BSP leader in Vidhan Parishad, Sunil Kumar Chittor said the police had yet to take cognizance of the crime. “BJP leaders have been sharing meals with Dalits only for publicity but the party's government in the state is least bothered when it comes to crime against Dalits,“ said Chittor.
Responding to the allegation, Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma said he had his sympathy with the BSP leadership after 90% Dalits voted for BJP , first in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and then in the 2017 state assembly elections,“ said Sharma. Nevertheless, he said, the state government was committed to addressing incidents of crime against members of all castes. “Police are verifying the case and would take action soon,“ he said.
SP MLCs raised issue of inclusion of OBC sub-castes in the SC list and accused the BJP of breaking its election promise to include 17 OBC sub-castes in SC category.
Sharma said SP and BSP did not bothered to take up the issue when Congress was in power at the Centre.