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April      Last updated: April 29,  5:00 p.m.

Pramod Kumar

"The NDA Government is committed to protecting the rights of Dalits and would also amend the Constitution to give them what has been denied to them during the last 50 years", asserted the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee while addressing a Dalit rally in Delhi recently. The rally was organised by the BJP's SCs morcha at Red Fort grounds.

Making an announcement that the government was planning to introduce a legislation during the current budget session of Parliament to expedite promotions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Government jobs, Shri Vajpayee said : "According to the Supreme Court, merit and seniority is the criterion for promotion. But some relaxation has to be given for that class of society which has suffered over past several years."

While criticising the Congress for the massive backlog in SCs appointments in Government jobs, Shri Vajpayee pointed out that a Bill had already been tabled in the Parliament to clear the backlog. The Government is very serious about clearing this backlog which will generate additional employment for the community, he said adding that though the Supreme Court had fixed reservation limit at 50 per cent, relaxation in qualification is required for promotions because we should not forget that we are dealing with a class which has endured neglect and injustice over the years.

Strongly criticising the Congress for making noise on constitutional review, Shri Vajpayee said that those who have gagged the civil rights in the past (during Emergency), are now trying to impute motives behind the purpose of the Constitutional Review Commission. Our Government has no intention of curtailing Fundamental Rights and freedom. Rather we want to widen the scope of civil rights so that everyone in society gets their due, he said.

The move to review the Constitution should not be an issue of controversy, he said adding that even Dr Ambedkar had said that the Constituo review the Constitution should not be an issue of controversy, he said adding that even Dr Ambedkar had said that to review tho review the Constitution should not be an issue of controversy, he said adding that even Dr Ambedkar had said that the Constituo reo review the Constitution should not be an issue of controversy, he said adding that even Dr Ambedkar had said that the Conso review the Constitution should not be an issue of controversy, he said adding that even Dr Ambedkar had said that the Constitu Dr Amebdkar in Maharashtra where Baba Saheb had started his agitation against the injustices done to Dalits.

The Prime Minister said that though Dalits had been given legal rights and privileges, the society has to change its mindset. Stating that the BJP always stood for giving Dalits a place of pride in the society, he said that his government did not treat under-privileged sections of the society as a vote-bank. Rather, we consider that this important section of the society live with respect and dignity. We are working for a social change. But, we believe that no lasting change is possible if it is carried out through violence means, he added.

Speaking at the rally Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani said that Congress initially was comfortable with the Constitution Review Committee, but they became extremely critical the moment former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma was made a member of the Committee. "It is Congress and not BJP which is responsible for massive backlog in SCs appointments in Government job, since most of the last 50 years the Congress party was in power", he said.

BJP President Kushabhau Thakre accused the Congress of spreading a canard that the BJP was out to demolish the basic structure of the Constitution. We have to go to the masses and make them aware of the disinformation campaign unleashed by the Congress, he said. The rally was also addressed by Union Ministers Satyanarayan Jatia, Bangaru Laxman, Munilal and President of the BJP SCs Morcha Ramnath Kovind.