MUMBAI, July 31: Republican Party of India RPI leader Prakash Ambedkar today accused the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party BJP of fostering a socio-political environment, totally detrimental to the lot of Dalits and minorities.
Back from his tour of the state, which he undertook after the July 11 Ghatkopar police firing which left ten Dalits dead, Ambedkar appears convinced that Sena, BJP workers were responsible for most of the atrocities on Dalits during the spontaneous bandhs called after the firing incident.
As a result, he was disappointed with the United Front for not dismissing the Maharashtra government. He now intends to approach the Central leaders for a reconsideration of their decision. Especially in view of the post-mortem reports which clearly indicated that most of the victims were killed at point blank range. 8220;A study of the highway and the surrounding areas shows there can be no point blank firing on the roads. Obviously, the police entered the colony and chose its victims from there,8221; Ambedkar said.He drew attention to the 8220;dangerous8221; signs of Hindu consolidation against religious minorities in the country, including Buddhists and Jains. 8220;A recent Jain convention in the state passed a resolution stating that they should not be referred to as Hindus8217;. This is definitely a sign of unrest in the community and they are feeling insecure under this government,8221; he said. The RPI leader minced no words in declaring that Dalits and members of non-Hindu communities were 8220;definitely insecure8221; under the current dispensation.
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These and other issues would be debated at an intellectuals8217; meeting being held at Aurangabad on August 3, he said. The meeting will discuss the relevance of August 15 to Dalits in the 50th year of Indian Independence, as well as initiate a debate on Arun Shourie8217;s controversial book Worshipping False Gods. It will also discuss the government8217;s offer to post Home Guards at all statues of Dr Ambedkar to prevent their desecration. To this Ambedkar said that the problem was not as simple and 8220;went much beyond just desecration.8221;
He described as 8220;dangerous8221; the signs that there was a seeming Hindu consolidation against religious minorities in the country. Ambedkar included Buddhists and Jains as well as Muslims among the minorities.
