Modi has no place for Dalits in his heart: Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Dalit outreach programme claiming that the government's anti-SC mindset became clear when the judge who diluted the anti-atrocities law was rewarded with re-employment.

Addressing a protest rally 'Simha Garjana' organised by Dalit and tribal outfits, Gandhi said the BJP governments both at the Centre and the states have no place for Dalits in their hearts.

“If Modiji had a place for Dalits in his heart, then the policies for Dalits would have been different,” Gandhi said at the rally that was also attended by CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.

The Congress President also rejected the BJP's claim that it was the VP Singh government that was instrumental in enacting the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Gandhi said anti-Atrocities Act was enacted when his father Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister.

“But that was allowed to be diluted by Modiji. And the judge who diluted the act was given a promotion,” he said, referring to the appointment of Justice A.K. Goel as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairman.

Bowing to the demands from Dalit rights organisations and from within the NDA, the Modi government brought a bill to overturn the Supreme Court judgement. The Bill was passed by Parliament this week.

He said Modi has authored a book in which he has written that Dalits get spiritual satisfaction out of cleaning. “This statement throws light on his thoughts and ideology,” Gandhi said at the protest held in Jantar Mantar here.

“Wherever there is a BJP government, in those states Dalits are openly beaten and crushed. We don't want an India like this. We want an India in which there should be a place for everybody, whether Dalits, poor, tribals or minorities...everybody should progress. We will fight for such an India,” he added.

“His (Modi's) thinking is anti-Dalit... The entire country will stand up against him, the BJP and the RSS,” Gandhi said.