“No Other Govt Has Done More To Uplift Dalits”

Union Social Justice Minister and the Dalit face of the Narendra Modi government, Thawar Chand Gehlot, talks to BW Businessworld’s Suman K. Jha and says that there’s no basis to the claim that the BJP and the RSS support groups attacking Dalits in the name of cow protection. Excerpts:

Q:Why are Dalits being attacked across the country?
A: Dalits are an integral part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s growth story. You have seen how the Dalit community whole-heartedly rallied for Modi and the NDA in the 2014 elections, and result is the highest number of Dalit MPs got elected from our party. We have also undertaken a number of welfare measures for them.

This is, however, not for the first time that Dalits are being attacked. An unprecedented hype is being created around them. The reason is not far to seek — the UP elections are round the corner and various political parties are trying to score political points, doing politics over the issue. A similar situation was witnessed during the Bihar assembly elections.

Q: But why has the PM not spoken out on the issue? Since your ministry is meant to protect the interests of the SCs and STs, have you take up the issue with the PM and your party?

A: We keep talking to the PM from time to time.

While all such attacks are to be condemned in the strongest possible words. And we want all such perpetrators of hate crimes to be tried and punished, what we must not forget is that this is a law and order issue, and a state issue, too. We are working with state governments and are asking them to act. We are also closely working with the Union Home Minister on this.

Q: It’s also said that the cow protection groups, or cow vigilantes enjoy the support of the BJP and the RSS...
A: This is just not true. This is a misconception, a misinformation campaign being run by our political rivals.

Q: Many people say that there is an economic basis to the discrimination being faced by the Dalits. What do you have to say?
A: But no other government had done more for the economic uplift of the Dalits. This is the only government that thought of creating Dalits, who would be job-givers, not just job-seekers. With the help of Ficci (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) and DICCI (Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), this government is committed of creating a new class of entrepreneurs, who would give employment to others. As part of the Stand UP Programme, 1.25 lakh branches of 27 public sector banks will help in creating at least 1.25 lakh SC and 1.25 lakh ST entrepreneurs.

Q: Many Dalit MPs of BJP tell us that they would like the government to ensure affirmative action, even reservations, in the private sector. What do you have to say?
A: We are working with the industry to safeguard the interests of the weaker sections. We have planned a number of schemes for the weaker sections. Like Rs 200 crore of venture capitalist funds for them. Another corpus of Rs 500 crore has been created for them. A specially designed skill programme has been devised for the youth of the weaker sections. A pool of 1.5 lakh youth has already been trained under the programme. Then loans are being made available to them at a rate of 4-6 per cent to start their own businesses.

Q: Are you also moving towards implanting quotas in the private sector, as some of your MPs and many of your allies are demanding?
A: There’s already a committee of Secretaries that is looking into this matter. They have held talks with industrialists, industry bodies, and others, but no common ground has been arrived at which could be used to usher in quotas. So no private sector quotas for now.

Q: You recently talked about reservations in promotions in government jobs in Parliament. Are you moving ahead in that direction?
A: The Supreme Court has already given verdicts, which don’t exactly uphold this line. Now review petitions have been filed in the apex court. Let’s see what comes out of them. While there have been representations on reservations in the government jobs, there has been no unanimity on this. Let’s wait for a consensus to emerge on the issue.

suman@businessworld.in, @ skjsumankjha