"UP number 1 in atrocities against Dalits": SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav lambasts BJP

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 21 (ANI): Samajwadi Party Chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Uttar Pradesh administration for being the "number 1" state when it comes to atrocities against Dalits, while also asking why Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states like Rajasthan, MP, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra have been consistently "responsible for most attacks on Dalits," especially Dalit women.
"UP has become number 1 in the case of atrocities on Dalits during the BJP government. The question is why only the states like UP, Rajasthan, MP, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, which are ruled by the BJP, are responsible for the most attacks on Dalits and crimes against Dalits, especially in the cases of harassment and misbehaviour of Dalit women," Akhilesh Yadav wrote in a post on X while citing a media report.

The SP chief was replying to a news report, which he posted, highlighting National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on atrocities against Dalits, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list with over 15 thousand registered cases. Other states in the list were Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

Continuing his attack, Yadav called the BJP a "party of traditional hegemonists" with the party's thinking being quite feudal in which the poor, deprived, Dalits, backwards, minorities, women and tribals face "nothing but humiliation and disgrace."
"BJP is basically a party of traditional hegemonists and the basic thinking of the hegemonic BJP is feudal, in which there is nothing but humiliation and disgrace for the poor, deprived, Dalits, backwards, minorities, half the population (women) and tribals," his post read.
According to Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP is still living in the pre-Independence era, which is why they are against the Constitution, as a few people occupy key positions of power while everyone else does the work.
"In their mind, psyche and conduct, the BJP people are living in the same mindset as before independence. That is why BJP people are also against the Constitution because in BJP, only a few special people always occupy the key positions in the organisation and the government and the rest of the work, like running around, carrying sticks, flags, banners and carpets, is given to others," his post read.
The SP chief added, "In the BJP, a Dalit or backwards person may get a designation, but he never gets a 'padmaan' (post). Elections are fought in their name, but even the post of Chief Minister is not given to them; they are not given any other post. If someone really listens to the voice of his conscience, then he is neither oppressed nor humiliated by such people; it is a different matter that he is compromising due to his selfishness and greed."
Yadav's comments come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kanpur on Thursday, April 24. (ANI)