Jogendra Kavade criticises Congress-NCP govt in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jul 2 (UNI) The Congress-NCP combined government in Maharashtra today came under severe criticism from one of its ex-allies, Prof Jogendra Kavade who heads People's Republican Party.

''This government is more casteist than the previous Shiv Sena-BJP government. Dalits are not at all secure in Maharashtra,'' Mr Kavade said, while speaking to mediapersons at his party office this evening.

He said, ''The Chief Minister has not yet found time to visit Varuda village near Latur, where upper cast people have imposed social boycott on the Dalits.'' Mr Kavade had resigned from his membership of Legislative Council, over the issue of Khirlanji atrocity. He said Dalits are facing 35 per cent more atrocities in this regime than the previous one.

He said he is backing BJP state president Nitin Gadkari in the Nagpur Graduate's constituency in the Council polls and has also extended his support to the Janta Dal leader Sharad Patil in similar elections from Pune. His party would contest 15 Lok Sabha and 51 Assembly seats in the next elections, Mr Kavade said.

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