BJP leader Dinanath Bhaskar says dalits donot have courage to misuse SC/ST Act

Uttar Pradesh BJP leader Dinanath Bhaskar on Saturday said Dalits "do not have the courage" to misuse the SC/ST Act.

Bhaskar who represents Aurai assembly constituency in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly said the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was misused by those who were opposed to it.

"Dalits do not have the courage to misuse any law," Bhaskar who was one of the founding members of the Bahujan Samaj Party said.

"Not only SC/ST law, instances of misuse of anti-dowry laws have (also) been reported," he added.

Admitting that some in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were not happy with the amendments made to the Act after violent protests by Dalit groups, Bhaskar said the "anger" was temporary.

"Some people in the party are also not in favor... Whenever the head of a family takes a decision, everybody is not happy. Someone gets angry. If there is any such anger in the BJP, it is only temporary manmutaav (estrangement)," he said.