Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati reacted strongly to the alleged resignation of Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Dinesh Khatik, from the Bharatiya Janata Party Government, saying sideling of a Dalit Minister was very unfortunate and condemnable.
“The government should give up its casteist mindset and fulfill its responsibility towards Dalits,” she said.
The BSP supremo on Wednesday tweeted that the neglect of Dalit minister even within the council of ministers was highly condemnable and unfortunate. “Such news is in national discussions. The government must fulfill the responsibility of taking care of their safety and respect by abandoning its casteist mentality and neglect, disdain, exploitation and injustice towards the Dalits,” she said. Dinesh Khatik has allegedly offered to resign in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging neglect and disrespect. Khatik, however, denied any resignation letter and claimed to be going to Delhi just to meet Shah. Meanwhile, Mayawati held an important meeting with senior party leaders of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab on Wednesday. In the meeting, the latest political situation in these states, casteist and communal atmosphere, election preparations and grassroots activities of the party organisation were reviewed to increase the BSP mass base.
Mayawati gave strict advice to the leaders to prepare the party organisation and candidates on missionary basis for the upcoming assembly elections of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking cognisance of the well-known allegations that the new Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab was being run by remote control, Mayawati said that the people of the party had to continue their struggle as before. “Without getting too distracted by the victory or defeat of the election, you have to stick to your missionary work,” she directed the BSP workers.
Referring to the current situation in UP, Mayawati said that the arrest of people under various laws like NSA and oppression of families had become the new government fashion of repression.
She said to cover up its failure in controlling crime and law and order, the government was taking grossly unfair actions.
“At the same time, there is an atmosphere of fear and terror in the entire state due to wrong government policies of arresting people on trivial issues. When criminal elements who associate themselves with the ruling party are roaming freely, how is crime control and rule of law possible? The fear of law must be there in all criminals,” she said.
With the resolution to complete Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's mission, Mayawati called for strengthening the Ambedkarite movement of the BSP.