Ram Vilas Paswan lashes out at Uddhav Thackeray over article on Atrocities Act, says it reflects his 'anti-Dalit' mentality

New Delhi: BJP ally and Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan Sunday slammed Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for his reported criticism of the government’s bill to overturn a Supreme Court order on the law against Dalit atrocity, saying it reeks of anti-Dalit and anti-backward mentality. Paswan, also a Union minister, said he condemns Thackeray’s comments and it was unfortunate that a leader from a state where Dalit icon BR Ambedkar was born is making such a statement. The Sena supremo in a signed article in his party’s mouthpiece Saamana had attacked the Modi government after it approved a bill to restore the original provisions of a law on atrocities against Dalits and tribals. [caption id=“attachment_2250626” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Ram Vilas Paswan. PTI[/caption] Leaders like Paswan had argued that the court verdict had diluted the law and sought a bill to overturn it. “Such a statement is a reflection on an anti-Dalit, anti-tribal and anti-backward mentality. I need not say much about Shiv Sena’s track record,” Paswan told PTI in response to Thackeray’s comments. The LJP said such a bill is very much in line with the Constitution which sought to give equal dignity to all people. “Ambedkar wrote the Constitution but leaders like them (Thackeray) do not read it,” he said. He said the bill is “historic” and a “slap” on the face of those who accused the Modi government of being “anti-Dalit”. While attacking Thackeray, Paswan later tweeted that he had spoken to Sena MP Anandrao Adsul, who belongs to Scheduled Caste, and he told him that he completely agreed with him and the government’s decision. “Uddhav Thackeray may not be having knowledge of this Act. Before making such statement Thackeray should have consulted the Dalit members of Parliament of Shiv Sena,” Paswan said.