BUNGA SAHIB (Ropar): Uttar Pradesh have the highest number of cases relating to atrocities against dalits in the country, said National Scheduled Castes Commission chairman PL Punia while talking to media persons at village Bunga Sahib about 20 kilometres from Ropar today.
Punia was at Bunga Sahib to unveil the statute of BSP founder Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary today.
He said that Uttar Pradesh had a large population and feudal and anti-dalit forces were still active in the state in good number as such the number of case relating to atrocities against dalits was also quite high.
Punia said that number of laws had been enacted to prevent atrocities against dalits and National Scheduled Castes Commission was making efforts to ensure effective implementation of these laws and also to create awareness among the dalits in this regard.
In reply to a question that Kanshi Ram’s brother Dalbara Singh has opposed the inauguration of ‘temple’ and statute of Kanshi Ram, Punia said that it was not any temple.Only a statute of Kanshi Ram, was installed as a respect to a great leader of Dalits.
He said Kanshi Ram was never against the construction of his statutes.In fact he had himself got started the construction of his statutes and also those of great leaders like Jyoti Rao Phule and Dr.BR Ambedkar.
Punia said that he had not come as a congress leader for the unveiling of statute of Kanshi Ram ,but as his follower to pay his respect to him.
Later on addressing a function Punia paid rich tributes to Kanshi Ram.
The function was also addressed among others by Shiromani Akali Dal senior vice president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia,Chief parliamentary Secretary Pawan Kumar Tinu,Former PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo,Former MLAs Rana KP Singh and Shingara Ram Sahungra ,Sri Guru Ravidas Dham Pune head Sukhdev Ji Baghmare and Kanshi Ram’s sister Swaran Kaur also spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile,Kanshi Ram’s brother Dalbara Singh alleged that he another followers of Kanshi Ram were not allowed to visit Bunga Sahib ,which was the maternal village of Kanshi Ram,for today’s function.He alleged that Police had stopped them from entering the village saying that they had not been invited for the function.