Lok Sabha today witnessed sharp protests from AIADMK members after a Congress member spoke of increasing atrocities on dalits in various parts of the country including Tamil Nadu.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, K Suresh (Cong) said the atrocities against the dalits were rising day by day and untouchability was also being practised in different forms.
To drive home his point, he alleged that in a town in Tamil Nadu, dalit students in schools are being asked to clean toilets.
This led to protests from AIADMK members with Deputy Speaker and AIADMK leader M Thambi Durai wondering as to why the Congress member was talking "Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu". AIADMK leader P Venugopal wanted permission from the Chair to rebut Suresh.
Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge came to the help of Suresh telling the Chair that the member was raising a serious issue and he should be allowed to have his say.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan told Suresh that he should speak in a general way and not take the name of any state, but the Congress member did not make amends.
Mahajan sought to pacify agitated members saying that the Home Minister Rajnath Singh could respond to the issue while replying to the debate on the demands for grants of his ministry.
Singh later generally said the government will not tolerate attacks on SCs, STs, minorities and women.
