Headlines
Congress asks PM to dismiss minister over 'anti-Dalit' remark
New Delhi, Oct 22 Strongly condemning union minister V.K. Singh's remark on the burning alive of two toddlers from a Dalit family in Haryana, the Congress on Thursday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack the minister with immediate effect.
"We demand Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately sack his minister (V.K. Singh) if he slightly disagrees with his comments," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here.
Reacting to the killing, Singh, a former army chief, on Thursday drew an analogy that if someone threw stones at a dog, the government was not responsible. Later, the minister came out with a clarification, saying he did not intend to draw a comparison.
The Congress also sought registration of a criminal case against the former army chief under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Surjewala said the remark made by the minister reflected "anti-Dalit, anti-backward and anti-poor mindsets" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Pointing to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's alleged pitch for a review of reservation policy, the Congress said neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor BJP president Amit Shah had condemned the "anti-reservation remark of their coach".
The Congress spokesperson also accused the Modi government of being anti-Dalit, saying the central government had slashed the budget for scheduled castes by Rs.19,734 crore in 2015-16. It was Rs.50,548 crore during 2014-15.
Surjewala said the Congress in 2014 brought an amendment ordinance to strengthen the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which would help control such heinous crimes against the Dalits.
But the Modi government made no effort to amend the Act according to the ordinance provisions, he alleged.
3 minutes ago
Sundar Pichai announces $120 million ‘Global AI Opportunity Fund’
4 minutes ago
Aspirational India fuels auto loan surge as private consumption rises
9 minutes ago
Education & Health Ministry ask states to effectively implement tobacco guidelines
10 minutes ago
'One Earth, One Health': India to contribute $7.5 mn under 'Quad Cancer Moonshot' initiative, says PM Modi
11 minutes ago
‘Cancer Moonshot’ initiative begins with reducing cervical cancer burden in Indo-Pacific
12 minutes ago
Centre okays Rs 2,603 crore for wildlife habitat development scheme
13 minutes ago
India joins Brazil, Bhutan to enhance food safety, foster technical collaboration
14 minutes ago
Premier League: Palace hold Man United to goalless draw
15 minutes ago
1st Test: Ashwin, Jadeja shine in Chennai as India beat Bangladesh by 280 runs
16 minutes ago
Arsenal will be going to Manchester City to win: Bukayo Saka
17 minutes ago
INDvBAN: India name unchanged squad for Kanpur Test
18 minutes ago
Coming back to Test cricket, where I belong the most, is special, says Pant
20 minutes ago
'Time to seize the gold': Rahul Gandhi wishes Team India for Chess Olympiad's final round