Expressing concerns over growing number of incidents of atrocities on Dalits in Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister and National Convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal today announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) would be constituted to review the cases related to atrocities against dalits after formation of AAP Government in Punjab. “It has been noticed that many false cases were registered against dalits and atrocities against dalits could be gauged from the fact that hands of a dalit were chopped off by an Akali leader as he (Bhim Tank) refused to work with him”, Kejriwal said while addressing a gathering of dalit community here today.Even the SIT would review the false cases registered against dalits and these would be withdrawn, Kejriwal said vowing that days of SAD-BJP government in state are numbered now.Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said that Education would be used as “Tool” by the AAP government to bring out dalits from their poor plight.
“As dalits by & large depend on the government schools for education of their wards, Akalis deliberately did not do anything to improve the standard of education”, Kehriwal said adding that within five years of AAP Government standards of all government schools would be improved to match the quality of education in private schools.“In Delhi, we have increased the annual budget of education from Rs 5000 crore to 10,000 crore and now the standard of government schools has improved, which could be evident from the number of recommendations, we receive for getting admission in government schools”, Kejriwal said.It is the first time in any state of the country, when government teachers were being sent to US to get training, which will definitely have its positive impact on the quality of education in government-run schools, Delhi CM saidReferring to the suicide by a Dalit Student Rohit Vemula in Andhra Pradesh, Kejriwal termed BJP as anti-dalits party and said the circumstances were created by the Union government, which forced Vemula to take the extreme step.
On the issue of reservation to dalits, Kejriwal warned that BJP may stop reservation anytime, which was indicated by the RSS, mentor organisation of BJP, which advocated review of the reservation being extended to dalits.“Whenever BJP will get chance it will try again to stop reservation. But I will prefer to die, but not allow BJP to rob the rights of dalits”, Kejriwal said.Delhi CM said that 90% of Dalits in Delhi voted for AAP and if the elections are conducted anytime now, this percentage will definitely increase”, Kejriwal claimed.At the end, Kejriwal appealed the gathering to take oath for ensured victory of AAP in Punjab. “We have no money to contest poll, it is you who will have to spend money as well as to nock every door of the household for vote to AAP to ensure bright future of your children”, he said.Prominent among others who addressed the gathering include, State Convenor of AAP Sucha Singh Chhotepur, MP Bhagwant Mann, Professor Sadhu Singh, Spokesman Sukhpal Khaira and Gurpreet Ghuggi.