SC officials being harassed in MP

Bhopal, July 31 (UNI) The opposition Congress members today expressed serious concern over harassment of government officials belonging to the Scheduled Castes at the hands of BJP functionaries and alleged the government was protecting certain offenders.

Replying to the debate on the issue raised through a call attention notice, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra, deputing for Home Minister, said the government was committed to protecting Scheduled Caste people and offenders would not be spared.

Mr Mishra said Tahsildar K L Jatav was apparently assaulted at Tikamgarh on a dispute over auction of a temple land.

BJP member Akhand Pratap Singh put the government in a dock when he alleged that Scheduled Caste officials were being frequently transferred and meted out harassment. On this, Mr Mishra said transfers, if made with mala fide intentions, would be amended.

Mr Satyadeo Katare, Mr Ramniwas Rawat (both Cong) and Mr Akhand Pratap Singh, who moved the notice, said Tahsildar K L Jatav was thrashed by Nand Kishore Dixit and others at the Circuit House at Tikamgarh on June 19. No action was taken against the offenders and the Tahsildar was later transferred, they said, adding the government was giving protection to criminals.

The Congress members charged that a wanted offender took part in a tree plantation programme along with a minister.

Mr Sajjan Singh Verma and Mr Brijesh Singh Rathore (both Cong) alleged that government officials at different places were assaulted by BJP functionaries.

UNI