Attacks on Dalits, minorities on a rise under BJP govt : Kejriwal to President

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday called on President Pranab Mukherjee and sought his intervention in the issues of “increasing attacks on Dalits and minorities” and alleged Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had helped a ration shop owner whose licence was cancelled for “irregularities”. Accompanied by the North Delhi Municipal councillor Rakesh Kumar who was allegedly beaten up by BJP councilors on Thursday, Kejriwal charged that the incidents of attacks were “increasing” against Dalits and minorities since BJP came to power at the Centre. [caption id=“attachment_2828372” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A file photo of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. AFP[/caption] “Rakesh Kumar, who belongs to a Dalit family, was badly beaten by BJP councillors during a joint session of the three MCDs at Ramleela ground. It’s a shameful incident. We told the President that since BJP has formed government at the Centre, the attacks and atrocities on Dalits and minorities have been increasing day by day,” Kejriwal said. Kejriwal said he told the President that either such incidents were being done by them (BJP) or those doing it have “political protection”. Earlier on Friday, Kejriwal, in the Delhi Assembly, alleged that if BJP had its way, it would “throw” Dalits, Muslims, Sikhs and other minorities in the Pacific Ocean. The AAP national convener claimed that his is the only political party which takes care of Dalits and minorities. “A Dalit AAP MLA became Deputy Speaker of the Assembly today as AAP takes care of every section of the society,” said Kejriwal while addressing MLAs in the House. “The way Rohith Vemula (Dalit scholar of Hyderabad Central University) was forced to commit suicide and the Dalits are being beaten up and minorities tortured, we told the President that it seems BJP hates the Dalits and minorities and urged him to interfere in it at his level,” he said. The Delhi Chief Minister also raised the issue of the licence of a ration shop being cancelled by his government for “irregularities” which was later allegedly restored on Lt Governor’s order. “A ration shopowner’s licence was cancelled for irregularities in Burari and his appeal was rejected. But the Lt Governor reinstated his shop,” he claimed. Kejriwal claimed the Lt Governor also “ordered” vigilance inquiry against the officers concerned and lodging of FIR against the MLA who had complained against the “irregularities”. “We said to the President that since the LG is his representative so it is not a good message that his representative should act like this, and urged him to interfere in the matter,” he said. Kejriwal was accompanied by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and some AAP legislators during the meeting with the President.