Diplomat row: Government's approach shows anti-Dalit mentality, says BSP

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Centre of being non-serious on the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the US, BSP supremo Mayawati said it has unmasked the government's " anti-Dalit mentality".

"Whatever has happened with a Dalit lady in the US, we cannot ignore it. But it has also unmasked the Centre's anti-Dalit mentality," Mayawati said outside Parliament when told that by making it a Dalit issue, the whole thing has been diluted now.

Devyani, the Depute Consul General of India in New York, was arrested and strip searched last week in the US causing a furore here and all political parties cutting across party lines demanded tit-for-tat action against the US.

Hardening its stand against the US, Centre has taken a series of steps to scale down the privileges granted to US diplomats after the Devyani incident.

Plying the Dalit card, BSP supremo, however, said, "Had it been another woman in her place, the government would have taken some major action by now. But it has been many days since the incident happened and the government is yet to initiate any concrete step. Whatever the government is doing is not clear yet. It seems the Centre is not serious on the issue yet. This is an important national issue."

She said after the considerable struggle, SC people got the right to education.

Seeking apology from the US for its conduct, she said, "US should apologise to India and withdraw all cases against the woman. If US does not apologise then India should rethink on its ties with that country."