Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati was on Thursday unrelenting on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the attack against her by the latter’s senior Uttar Pradesh leader Dayashankar Singh, saying his sacking was not enough and the party itself should have filed an FIR against him.
She alleged in Rajya Sabha that atrocities on Dalits were on the rise in BJP-ruled states in the name of cow protection and the centre should call an all-party meeting to find solution to this issue.
Referring to the incident of atrocity on Dalits in Gujarat, she said the state government, instead of a CID probe, should set up a separate team to conduct an inquiry on a fast-track mode. “A report has been published that the BJP member (Dayashankar) has been expelled from the party. It would have been better had the party not only expelled him but also lodged an FIR against him. That would have been admirable,” she said.
Mayawati was referring to Dayashankar Singh, vice-president of BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit, who was sacked by the party for making derogatory remarks against her.
The BSP leader thanked all Parliamentarians as well as women Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal for "unanamiously condemning" the remarks.
"It is a positive thing that the entire Parliament has condemned it. You have not only condemned vehemently, but boosted my morale and motivated me to fight for the cause of dalits," she said.
Expressing concern that suggestions emanating from the debates on dalits are not implemented, the BSP chief said there has been a disturing trend that atrocities on dalits occur during the period of Parliament session.
"The matter is discussed. Leaders give suggestion. In reality nothing happens, just lip service is done."
Referring to the recent thrashing of dalits by a cow protection group in Una in Gujarat, Mayawati said: “it is happening in BJP-ruled states on a large scale. Earlier it was against Muslims and that has stopped. Now, they are targeting dalits.”
She accused BJP-ruled Gujarat government of being a “mute spectator” and trying to “suppress” the issue and urged the Centre to speak to the state government to address the matter at the earliest.
“My demand is please talk to state government to give justice. Although you have sent Chief Minister to visit the place, that is not enough,” she said.