PM Modi’s Dalit outreach gets support from RPI’s Ramdas Athawale

Ramdas Athawale, the chief of NDA ally Republican Party of India (RPI), has thanked the prime minister for taking a firm stand against atrocities against Dalits. Mr Athawale said that the Congress should stop politicising the issue and welcome the PM’s statement.

“It does not matter which party is in the government. The concern is that communalism is growing everywhere from cities to villages. This is leading to attacks on Dalits. If the Opposition is serious about stopping attacks on Dalits, they should stop politicising the issue and work with the government to find a solution to the situation,” Mr Athawale said.

The RPI chief said that the PM has provided a massive boost to the morale of Dalit communities by saying “shoot me but do not attack my Dalit brothers”.

“The PM’s statement has given confidence to Dalits. Therefore we must be thankful to him. The Opposition was questioning the PM’s silence over the issue. But by speaking against cow vigilantes in no uncertain terms, the PM has exposed the Opposition. Now, instead of creating a ruckus in the Parliament over the issue, the Opposition parties must cooperate with the government to end atrocities against the Dalits,” Mr Athawale said.