Shoot me, but not Dalits, says Modi

'Malicious campaign against my govt'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday a malicious campaign was being carried out against his government by those who had exploited the Dalit community as a vote bank.

“If you want to attack me, do so, but not the Dalits. If you want to shoot, aim at me and shoot. Not at the Dalits,” Modi said, addressing Telangana BJP workers at the L B Stadium here.

Denouncing cow vigilantism in the strongest words for the second day in a row, Modi turned his attention to the anti-Dalit violence and said the “world will not forgive us” if the atrocities against the community continued.

“This is a social evil. On one hand, we talk about ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) and on the other, continue untouchability. The Dalits suffered indignities and humiliation for hundreds of years. Should they continue to suffer even 70 years after independence?” he said in a voice choked with emotion.

Without naming any political outfit, he said the attempts to politicise such issues must end. “Some people who, for years, thought they were the custodians of the Dalits’ interests and used them as vote banks are now worried. They feel threatened because my government has taken several initiatives for the uplift and empowerment of the Dalit communities.”

“They (Opposition) fear that if the Dalits are convinced about the NDA government’s welfare measures, it will remain in power for the next 50 years and their game of divisive politics will end,” Modi said.

Modi, however, did not talk about the political fallout due to the recent incidents of violence against the Dalits and Muslims in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier in the day, Modi launched six development projects aimed at benefitting Telangana, the country’s newest state, in Gajwel, 65 kilometres from here. He told the gathering that a “handful” of self-styled cow protectors were bent upon creating tension in the society and called for “isolating” such divisive elements.

He asked the state governments to identify cow vigilantes and take stringent action against them. “The best way to show our love for the cow is to link it to agriculture. It will never become a burden when it is linked to development,” he added.