Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was on Saturday conferred the title of "Dalit Mitra" (friend of Dalit) by the outfit Ambedkar Mahasabha outfit amid opposition from some office-bearers.
The title was conferred upon Adityanath at a function here to pay tribute to Dalit icon B R Ambedkar on his 127the birth anniversary.
The chief minister, while speaking on this occasion, announced the setting up 25 special courts to try cases under the SC/ST Act.
Adityanath also listed the schemes his government has initiated for the welfare of Dalitslits and weaker sections in the state and reiterated his commitment to protecting their interests.
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fulfilling the dreams of Ambedkar in the true sense.
There was a split in the Mahasabha over its decision to felicitate Adityanath with the title and several members of the outfit on Saturday held a demonstration in protest against it outside the venue of the function.
The members were taken into custody by the police.
Two founding members of the outfit - S R Darapuri and Harish Chandra - claimed that Mahasabha president Lalji Nirmal had been promised a lucrative post by the state government and that was why he wanted to please the chief minister.
"Atrocities on Dalits have increased manifold under the present government... it has failed to ensure the safety of the Dalits...the community is facing persecution," Darapuri charged.
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