MP, Rajasthan to withdraw 'political cases' against Dalits after Mayawati warning
Bhopal, Jan 1 (IBNS): The Congress gave its ally BSP chief Mayawati a New Year gift on Tuesday by deciding to withdraw all "politically motivated cases" filed by the previous BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Mayawati had on Monday warned the Congress that the BSP would reconsider its support to the governments in both the states unless it revoked cases filed against “innocent people” during the April 2, 2018 Bharat Bandh called by Dalit groups.
On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh law minister P.C. Sharma said: “We (Congress) have been fighting (against the BJP government). Irrespective of any party, those who have been fighting the BJP government which had sent people to jail... those political cases will be withdrawn.”
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said: “Our government will review all such cases to ensure that innocents are released.”
Stating that the BSP chief's demand was valid, Gehlot said: “The previous government had framed cases against many people."
However, Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan on Tuesday said: "Mayawati had not given a warning, She explained the need to build pressure regarding cases filed against the Dalits."
A Hindustan Times report quoting legal experts said it would not be easy to withdraw cases against political activists booked under various Indian Penal Code sections, including arson and attempt to murder because charge-sheets had been filed in the court after investigation.
The Congress is two short of the majority mark of 116 in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. It has formed the government with the support of four Independent, two BSP, and one SP MLAs.
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