NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said PM Modi had an “anti-Dalit” mindset which reflected in the fact that the Centre promoted the Supreme Court judge who delivered the verdict “diluting” the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Participating in a protest by Dalit groups at Jantar Mantar , Rahul said, “Everything depends on intent. If he (Modi) had a place for Dalits in his heart, then policies would have been framed differently. In Gujarat , he brought out a book of his speeches in which he said Dalits get spiritual satisfaction from cleaning. These lines throw light on his thinking and ideology.”

Rahul said, “The SC/ST Act was given to India by Congress and former PM Rajiv Gandhi . PM Modi allowed it to be scrapped, attacked. And the judge who attacked it was promoted and rewarded,” he said, referring to appointment of Justice A K Goel as head of the NGT.

Interestingly, Rahul’s fresh assault came on the day Parliament passed a legislation restoring the original atrocities law by setting aside the caveats inserted by the apex court. Speaking at the protest, Rahul said Dalits were being “beaten and crushed” in states ruled by BJP.

