SC Commission Vice Chairman criticises Nitish govt

Visibly angry over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar refusing to meet him, Vice Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes R K Verka today criticised the state government for midday meal tragedy and increasing cases of atrocities on Dalits.
"I came here to discuss Chhapra midday meal tragedy and discuss some grave cases of atrocities on Dalits but I was told by Chief Minister office that the chief minister does not have time," an upset Verka told reporters.
Verka said that in the wake of the Commission seeking report from the state government over Chhapra midday meal scheme in which 15 children of the 23 victims were OBC and SC, he said he met officials and expressed unhappiness over Saran district administration showing negligible progress in the event.

"The guilty has also not yet been identified," he said.
The Commission Vice Chairman said he told the officials to submit the action taken report on the midday meal incident within seven days.
Verka also came down heavily on Nitish Kumar government for growing cases of atrocities on Dalits in the state.

"Over 150 cases of atrocities on Dalits have come to us and seeing inaction of the state government the Commission might send them to CBI for probe," he added.
He said though it was required to hold meeting of SC&ST and OBC vigilance monitoring committee every three months, but it had not been followed in Bihar.

The Commission Vice Chairman also lamented that disposal rate of cases against Dalits was around 3 per cent in Bihar as compared to 35-40 per cent at the national level.