Mysuru:  Asserting that it is the Congress alone which can take care of Dalits, Chamarajanagar Congress MP R. Dhruvanarayan has said that BJP National President Amit Shah has no moral right to speak on Dalit development and welfare.

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Dhruvanarayan dismissed Amit Shah’s allegations that the Congress was anti-Dalit.

Strongly condemning Shah’s tirade against the Congress, he challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare funds based on population if he (PM) had any real concern for Dalits.

Claiming that Chief Minister Siddharamaiah had set a record in releasing funds for the welfare of SC/ST communities, the MP said that Shah was making baseless allegations against the Congress without checking facts.

Releasing statistics comparing the funds released by the present Congress Government and the previous BJP Government, Dhurvanarayan said that the CM waived off Rs.581 crore loan availed by 2.23 lakh beneficiaries of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation. Besides, the CM sanctioned loans to 3,04,727 beneficiaries belonging to different  Boards and Corporations and simplified procedures for SC/ST students to study abroad.

Maintaining that BJP-ruled States such as Gujarat, UP and Rajasathan lagged far behind Karnataka in almost all welfare schemes, the MP said that 75 percent roads in Dalit Colonies  here were concretised, which no other State has done.

Reiterating that BJP leaders do not have the moral right to criticise the Congress on Dalit welfare, he urged all BJP-ruled States to follow Karnataka model for comprehensive development of SC/ST and other oppressed communities.

He also lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making promises that remain only on paper. MyLAC Chairman H.A. Venkatesh, Bovi Development Corporation Chairman Seetaram and Dist. Congress President Dr. B.J. Vijay Kumar were present.