Bhopal, Sept 18: Rejecting reports of Madhya Pradesh topping the list of states where atrocities are committed on Scheduled Castes and Tribes, senior Congress leader K D Sultanpuri today said these were allegations raised without any basis as part of a `false campaign'. Sultanpuri, who is co-chairman of SC and ST cell of AICC, told reporters here that there has been decline in the number of atrocities against SCs and STs in the state.

"It is wrong to claim that Madhya Pradesh tops the list of states in such atrocities simply on the basis of preliminary complaints lodged with the police, before the pronouncement of court verdicts", he said. While Dalits were being neglected in many states, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Radhakishan Malviya, who belonged to SC, was functioning efficiently, Sultanpuri said.

The state government has also taken several steps for the uplift of STs, he said and claimed that the people would again vote Congress to power in the coming assembly elections. Denying misuse of central funds for Prime Minister's rural road programme, Sultanpuri said even the Centre has complimented the state government for its performance.

Bureau Report