Forming separate party will not help Dalits: Chidambaram

Chennai, Apr 14: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said Dalits forming a separate party would not help them get political power. "In my opinion, there should not be a separate party for Dalits.

They can join Congress or Communist parties or the state parties. But forming a separate party for Dalits will not help them get political power," he said speaking at the birthday anniversary of Baba Saheb B R Ambedkar here.

Jagjivan Ram became Defence Minister and Meira Kumar was made Speaker of the Lok Sabha only during Congress' rule, he said. "Look at who were the Home Ministers, Finance Ministers and PWD Ministers during DMK and AIADMK governments.

But Congress had made P Kakkan Home Minister long back," he said. Underlining the importance of the recent Supreme Court verdict on the Right To Education Act, he called upon his partymen to ensure implementation of the Act in letter and spirit from this academic year.

PTI