When the Governments at the Centre and the State are talking of development and financial inclusion, they are not giving priority to the Dalits.
The BJD has not been able to protect the rights of Dalits and at the same time, the BJP at every point of time is anti- Dalit, said PCC president Niranjan Patnaik.
In a congregation of Dalits organised at Swadhinata Sangrami Sadan here, Patnaik told the fundamental rights of Dalits have weakened in the hands of the BJD and the BJP.
“The atrocities against the Dalits are rising. Now, these ruling parties are trying to end the reservation system and amend the rule accordingly. On the other hand, the Congress always has been for the rights of the Dalits,” he told.
The Congress appointed Dr BR Ambedkar as head of Constitution making body of India because Congress wanted to protect the fundamental rights of Dalits as well as every section of the society in the constitution. But the RSS opposed the Constitution written by Dr Ambedkar, Patnaik said.
Congress MLA of Gujarat Jignesh Mewani who is a renowned Dalit leader heavily criticised both the BJD and the BJP for their sheer negligence. He said the State Government is silent on Kunduli issue.
“The poor people's hard earned money has been looted by chit fund mafias. It is astonishing that the BJD Government is not raising its voice against the BJP Government at the Centre on Rafael scam. The BJP and the BJD are two sides of a coin. They support each other in every act,” alleged Mewani.
The meeting was chaired by chairperson, Congress SC Cell Bibhu Prasad Tarai.