RS unanimously condemns atrocities against Dalits in Mah

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha today unanimously condemned atrocities against Dalits in the country, particularly the recent incident at Nagpur in which four members of a Dalit family were murdered and their women dishonoured while the police and administration remained passive spectators.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour, CPM's Brinda Karat said the incident could have been prevented but the administration as well as the police were indifferent.

She alleged compliance between them and doctors for giving an incorrect postmortem report which did not mention any injury on the body of an 18-year-old-girl, who she said, bore injury marks all over.

Even the FIR was filed very late after much persuasion, she said and added that local represenatatives, who were from the opposition, did not raise the matter. She did not name any opposition party.

Ms Karat demanded that the CBI inquiry, presently on in the case, file its report in a time-bound manner and criminal proceedings be initiated against senior police and administration officials who failed to perform their duty.

She also demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh call a meeting of the Home Ministers of states to chalk out an action plan to prevent such incidents in future and fast-track courts should decide such matters to prevent legal delays.

Ms Sushma Swaraj (BJP), while associating with Ms Karat, strongly condemned the incident and said such incidents could not take place without the patronage of the administration and police.

She also demanded that all those arrested, who were protesting against the incident, be released immediately.

Earlier, the House witnessed noisy scenes when Mr Rashid Alvi (Congress) wanted to raise the issue of Uttar Pradesh. This infuriated the Samajwadi Party members who strongly protested.

The TDP also wanted to raise a separate issue of farmers' suicides in the country.

Despite repeated pleas by Deputy Chairman Rahman Khan, the noise continued. Mr Khan later adjourned the House for ten minutes.

Amid all this, Ms Swaraj read out a message of congratulations for four women members of the boxing team who had won gold medals at the recent 4th World Woman Boxing Champuionship.

Ms Swaraj demanded that the women be given employment in police force or the Army be provided government sponsorship for participating in international meets.

UNI RB VD DB1307