<p class="title">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The title was conferred upon Adityanath at a function here to pay tribute to Dalit icon B R Ambedkar on his 127the birth anniversary.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chief minister, while speaking on this occasion, announced the setting up 25 special courts to try cases under the SC/ST Act.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fulfilling the dreams of Ambedkar in the true sense.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The members were taken into custody by the police.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"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.</p>
<p class="title">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The title was conferred upon Adityanath at a function here to pay tribute to Dalit icon B R Ambedkar on his 127the birth anniversary.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chief minister, while speaking on this occasion, announced the setting up 25 special courts to try cases under the SC/ST Act.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fulfilling the dreams of Ambedkar in the true sense.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The members were taken into custody by the police.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"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.</p>
