Attacks on Dalits on the wane, says social justice and empowerment minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot

NEW DELHI: The number of incidents of violence against Dalits has declined under the central government and stray incidents are being blown out of proportion, social justice and empowerment minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot has said.

Though the Union minister did not provide any data to corroborate his claims, Gehlot said due to attempts made by the government over the past three years incidents of violence against Dalits have declined.

Replying to questions on whether he was concerned about incidents such as the riots in Saharanpur, Gehlot said, “If you see the statistics, you would know that the number of incidents has actually come down over the last three years. It is only stray two-three incidents that are being blown out of proportion by mischievous elements.”

On May 5, one person was killed and 16 persons, including a head constable, were reported injured in clashes between Dalits and Rajputs in Shabbirpur and Simlana villages over loud music being played during a procession. A group of 20-25 youths of upper caste Thakur community from Shabbirpur village was on its way to Simlana village under Badgaon police station to take part in a function to garland the statue of Rajput warrior-king Maharana Pratap, when the Dalit locals reportedly objected to the loud music being played by them.

The Dalit locals asked the processioners to turn off the loud music as they passed in front of a temple belonging to Ravidasiya community. Since then, tension has prevailed in the area.