Deal firmly with those indulging in atrocities against Dalits

Kottayam (Ker), Aug 20 (PTI) CPI leader and Rajya SabhaMP D Raja today criticised the way in which the BJP-ledgovernment was handling atrocities against Dalits in thecountry and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to firmly dealwith such forces. Referring to Modi’s statement in Hyderabad last week that"If you have to shoot, shoot me, but not my Dalit brothers",hesaid "this is not the way the Prime Minister has to speak" onthe issue. Instead he should act as per law against such"manuvadi" forces targeting Dalits and women in the country. "Modi should say the law of the land will be upheld. Thelaw of the land is the Constitution. The Constitution will beupheld.Whoever maybe the person, whatever may be theorganisation, if they act in violation to the Constitution,they will be taken to task," he told reporters here. Raja said "Dalits and women feel insecure" under BJP ruleas "Hindutva forces are trying to impose Manuvad ideas" onthem. "This is a kind of fascism. This has to be fought. Thishas to be resisted," he said. Making an emotional appeal, Modi had asked people toprotect and respect Dalits who have for long been neglected bysociety. His comments came at a time when the NDA government isfacing flak over incidents of violence against Dalits andMuslims by cow vigilantes in various states, including UttarPradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Modi had asked what right the perpetrators had to exploitDalits and said unity in society should be priority. PTI CORTGB APR RCJNTR