Congress will raise Una issue in Parliament: Sonia Gandhi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday condemning the atrocities against Dalits and minorities said that the party will raise the Una issue in Parliament, where a Dalit committed suicide on Tuesday.

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting here, Sonia Gandhi also said that recent incidents in Jammu and Kashmir were tragic and it required introspection as to what had driven scores of youth to such levels of anger, protest and violence.

"We will raise Una incident issue in Parliament. The government has snatched rights of Adivasis, Dalits and traditional forest dwellers under Forest Rights Act and weakening environment rights," she said.

"Brutal atrocities against SC, ST and minorities are continuing with impunity and shaming us all," she added.

A policeman was killed in mob violence and a Dalit committed suicide on Tuesday as protests against last week's thrashing of four youth in Una town snowballed across Saurashtra region of Gujarat on Tuesday.

The Dalit who died during the day was among the five persons from the community who tried to take their own lives in separate incidents in Gujarat. 

Speaking on the Kashmir issue, Gandhi said: "Recent events in valley are tragic and pose grave challenge to country. The militants must be dealt with firmly. Yet, we must introspect as to what has driven scores of youth to such levels of anger and protest,even violence."

Curfew imposed by the authorities and a protest shutdown called by separatists paralysed life in the Valley for 13th day on Wednesday.

All normal activities of life have been paralysed by the ongoing cycle of violence that has claimed 44 lives, including 42 civilians and two policemen.