Dalit MPs submit memorandum to PM Narendra Modi for protection

NEW DELHI: About 160 MPs from the SC/ST community and from across political parties have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister listing out a range of ‘important legislative actions’ necessary for the ‘protection’ and ‘economic and educational advancement of Dalits and adivasis’.

Arguing that these would be a fitting commemoration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, the MPs — part of the forum of SC/ST Parliamentarians — have listed out seven proposed legislations. These include proposals for reservations in private educational institutes, job reservations in the private sector and the need for a social justice bank. The forum is also set to take up the matter of derogatory comments made about the BSP chief Mayawati by BJP’s DayaShankar.

Secretary general of the SC/ST forum, Rajya Sabha MP Jesudas Seelam confirmed to ET that such a memorandum has been submitted to the PM. “We have written to the PM. While there was movement on this in the previous regime, these legislations could not go through and our request is that they should be taken up by the government at the earliest in the interest of the disadvantaged sections of society. We plan to take another delegation to the PM on this soon,” Seelam told ET.