New Delhi: There was a war of words in Rajya Sabha on Monday between Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
The BSP leader Mayawati blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for the rising incidents of atrocities against Dalits. She said. “Since the BJP-led government has come to power (at the Centre), the Dalits are being exploited at different levels. There are several incidents, and this reflects the narrow and casteist mindset of this party towards these groups.”
Pointing on the incident where four Dalit youth were stripped half-naked, tied to a Sport Utility Vehicle in a crowded area and severely beaten up with iron pipes for over half an hour by a group of gau rakshaks for skinning a dead cow in Una town of Gir Somnath district in Gujarat and this incident went viral on the social media.
The BSP leader said. “The administration did not take action against the culprits and the police was a mute spectator,” the BSP leader said.
Mr.Naidu immediately objected and said, “you cannot take the party’s name. You can raise the issue and that is the ideal practice.”
Ex-Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh asked the central government to instruct the Gujarat government to take action against the guilty.
When Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Hamid Ansari wanted to take up the Question Hour, all the BSP members trooped near his podium and started raising slogans against the government.
In the din, the House was adjourned for 10 minutes. Later, the House took up the Question Hour.