Expressing concern over atrocities against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, Union minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said that the Yogi government should ensure that Dalits too live a respectful life.
"Around 45,000 cases of Dalit atrocities were reported in the country during the last one year and of this, a large number of cases were witnessed in UP. There is an urgent need to address the problems so that Dalits could live respectful lives,” Athawale said.
Addressing meia persons in lucknow on Wednesday after reviewing the government departments’ vacancies for SC/ST in the state, the the Republican Party of India (Athawale group) chief said that though Yogi Adityanath government was doing everything to sort out the issue yet much was needed to be done to end atrocities against Dalits.
Athawale said that cases of Dalit atrocities in Saharanpur, Unnao and Allahabad recently rocked the country. However, he suggested that promotion of inter-caste marriage was the best way to minimise Dalit atrocities in the country.
"I have married a Brahmin girl from Uttar Pradesh to set an example," he said.
Commenting on Bahujan Samajwadi Party chief Mayawati, Athawale said ,"The era of Mayawati has ended in UP and now the Dalits are with the Republican Party or the BJP."
"Mayawati became CM of UP four times but she did nothing for the community and hence Dalits left her and supported the BJP in the lok Sabha and Assembly polls," he said while denying charges that he was a puppet in the hands of BJP.
The Union minister also announced that in 2019 lok Sabha polls, Republican Party would contest elections in alliance with the BJP in UP.
Earlier during the review meeting, the Union minister directed government departments to fill all vacancies of SC/ST posts as per government rules.