Centre maintaining silence on Dalit welfare: Congress

Lucknow, March 31: Congress leader P L Punia on Thursday, March 31 accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of "maintaining silence" over issues concerning welfare of Dalits, including reservation in promotions.

"The Modi government is maintaining continued silence on bringing a bill on quota in promotions for which the previous UPA government had taken decisive steps," said Punia, who is also the Chairman of Scheduled Castes Commission.

The demand for quota in private sector and judiciary is also very old but the central government is silent on these as well, he said. Charging the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh with being anti-Dalit, Punia alleged that along with BSP and BJP SP has always tried to keep the Dalits behind in the path of progress.

Claiming that people are fed up with BSP, SP and BJP, the Congress leader hoped that in the state election next year, his party, which has been out of power for over two decades, will put up a good show.

He also flagged off the third phase of "Bhim Jyoti Yatra" which will pass through 22 districts to apprise the people with the works undertaken by the party for the welfare of the Dalits. The yatra will go on for 11 days.

PTI