Cong attacks PM for silence on Dalit killings

Congress on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remaining silent on the killing of Dalits in Haryana but talking at length about his proposed visit to Britain. Party spokesperson R P N Singh said rather than talking about the “burning issues” touching every Indian and rise in prices of essential commodities, he chose to present a detailed itinerary about his proposed visit. “It is unfortunate that the PM did not touch on issues that are prevalent and in the heart of every Indian. He did not even condemn the killings of Dalits in Haryana and the atrocious language used by his minister against the Dalits.

“He dwelt on detailed itinerary of his proposed visit to Great Britain and his plans to visit B R Ambedkar’s house in London. But he did not say how to safeguard the interest of Dalits in the country,” Singh said in a statement following the PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address. Modi did not even react “openly and loudly” to the “fringe elements” who seem to be “taking over the mainstream of the country”, he said.

“He is the Prime Minister of this country and instead of touching the issues prevalent today, his only talking about his itinerary in Britain is tragic for the country,” he said.

Singh’s reference was to the recent killing of two Dalit children in Faridabad allegedly by some persons of upper caste and the death of a 15-year-old Dalit boy under mysterious circumstances in Haryana.

The party has also demanded the sacking of Union Minister V K Singh who has kicked up a storm with his remark that the Centre cannot be blamed if somebody throws a stone at a dog to shield it from criticism for the Faridabad Dalit burning incident.