In an apparent attempt to woo the dalit population in Punjab, that forms a major chunk of vote bank in the state, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday promised to check atrocities against them and improving their plight if voted to power.
Dalit forms more than 35 per cent population of Punjab, highest among states across the country.
Expressing concerns over growing number of incidents of atrocities on Dalits in Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) would be constituted to review the cases related to atrocities against dalits after formation of AAP Government in the state.
“It has been noticed that many false cases were registered against dalits and atrocities against dalits could be gauged from the fact that hands of a dalit were chopped off by an Akali leader as he (Bhim Tank) refused to work with him,” said Kejriwal while addressing a gathering of dalit community at Jalandhar.
Kejriwal, vowing that days of SAD-BJP government in state are numbered now, said that even the SIT would review the false cases registered against dalits and these would be withdrawn.
He said that education would be used as “tool” by the AAP government to bring out dalits from their poor plight. “As Dalits, by and large, depend on the government schools for education of their wards, Akalis deliberately did not do anything to improve the standard of education,” said Kejriwal.
AAP leader announced that within five years of its Government, standards of all government schools would be improved to match the quality of education in private schools.
“In Delhi, we have increased the annual budget of education from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore and now the standard of government schools has improved, which could be evident from the number of recommendations, we receive for getting admission in government schools,” he said.
Kejriwal said that it was the first time in any state of the country, when government teachers were being sent to the US to get training, which will definitely have its positive impact on the quality of education in government-run schools.
Referring to the suicide by a Dalit student Rohit Vemula in Andhra Pradesh, Kejriwal termed BJP as anti-dalits party saying that the circumstances were created by the Union Government, which forced Vemula to take the extreme step.
On the issue of reservation to dalits, Kejriwal warned that BJP may stop reservation anytime, which was indicated by the RSS, BJP’s mentor organisation, which advocated review of the reservation being extended to dalits.
“Whenever BJP will get chance, it will try again to stop reservation. But I will prefer to die, but not allow BJP to rob the rights of Dalits,” said Kejriwal.
Delhi Chief Minister said that 90 percent of dalits in Delhi voted for AAP. “If the elections are conducted anytime now, this percentage will definitely increase,” he claimed.
Concluding, Kejriwal appealed the gathering to take oath for ensured victory of AAP in Punjab. “We have no money to contest poll, it is you who will have to spend money as well as to nock every door of the household for vote to AAP to ensure bright future of your children,” he said.