Opposition attacks govt over ‘increasing’ attacks on Dalits, Muslims

New Delhi, July 29

The Opposition on Friday walked out of Lok Sabha to protest against “growing” attacks on Dalits and Muslims in the country, days after two Muslim women were assaulted in Madhya Pradesh recently for “carrying beef”.

Raising the subject during Zero Hour, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge read out statistics highlighting attacks on Dalits and cited incidents in Mandsaur (MP), Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

He also demanded a ban on cow vigilante groups such as Gau Rakshak Sangh — the organisation suspected to be behind the most recent attack —and claimed they had become “law unto themselves”.

He also accused the BJP governments in states and the Sangh Pariwar of encouraging such attacks and even being involved in them.

"Such incidents can happen only when they have government's support," he said, citing Friday’s reports of a Dalit couple being hacked to death in UP.

Amid cries of 'shame, shame' from opposition benches, the Congress leader said the two Muslim women had pleaded with their attackers that they were carrying buffalo meat, not cow meat, and had even shown them a receipt.

"They were still thrashed in front of police. They were told that if they were men, they would have been killed," he alleged.

A forensic report later showed it was buffalo meat, Kharge said.

He also cited national crime data, saying a crime against Dalit was being committed every 80 minutes.

"You (government) will say that it has been happening earlier too, but it has risen after you came to power. It has your support," he said.

The Trinamool Congress also supported the Congress’s allegations.

In his brief reply over the incident in Madhya Pradesh, the Home Minister promised to investigate the case thoroughly.

"This is a law and order issue. We all know it is a state matter. The Madhya Pradesh government has acted swiftly and effectively. Investigation is being done. I assure the House that justice will be done and the guilty not spared."

Unhappy over his response, opposition members, among them leaders of the Congress, TMC and the Left, walked out of the House. — PTI