By IANS,
Lucknow: National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman P.L. Punia Wednesday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of being insensitive to the problems faced by Dalits.
He also alleged that she was not taking any serious steps to prevent atrocities against them.
“In the last five-six months, several incidents of rape and killing of Dalits took place in districts like Muzaffarnagar, Basti, Kannauj and Hathras, but the state government preferred to remain silent on all such incidents,” Punia told reporters at a press conference here.
“Even when the commission sought a report from the state government on the incidents, the government failed to reply. It clearly reflects the non-serious attitude of the Mayawati government which claims to protect rights of Dalits and backward communities,” he added.
Punia said that the commission was looking at ways to ensure that timely action was taken on first information reports (FIRs) and complaints filed by Dalits.
“We are working to ensure that the investigations in the complaint made by Dalits are completed within a month of registering the FIR so that the court hearing in the case could also start within three months,” said Punia.