CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday demanded that the NDA government call a special session of Parliament to discuss issues concerning Dalits, including reservation in private sector jobs and special plans for the community.
"We had raised this demand when Modi Government assumed office at the Centre and we will again raise this demand in Parliament," he said addressing a 'Dalit Sansad', organised by Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch in Delhi.
"Reservation has no meaning unless it is also allowed in private sector," he said, adding that his party would continue to press the demand for a special session of Parliament for discussion on issues related to the Dalit community.
"We have been raising the demand of special (development) plans for SCs and STs for over two decades without any results and it needs to be discussed in a special session of Parliament," the CPI(M) general secretary said.
Pointing to continuing "exploitation of Dalits in the country", Yechury said, "India cannot develop into a strong modern nation unless Dalits are enabled to exercise their rights and protected from atrocities." The Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch was launched last year to take up issues related to the Dalit community in the country.
