Bhopal, Oct 19: Branding Digvijay Singh government in Madhya Pradesh as "anti-Dalit and anti-women", Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today asked the people of the state not to remain silent spectators to rising atrocities against these sections and choose a woman chief minister. "I am shocked to learn that Madhya Pradesh has earned the dubious distinction of topping the list of states in rape cases. Atrocities on Dalits are also on the rise under the congress regime," he said at a women's rally organised by BJP here to kick-start its election campaign in the state.

People have been complaining that the state did not have a woman chief minister, he said. "Now there is an opportunity to have one", Vajpayee said referring to firebrand BJP leader Uma Bharati being projected as party's chief ministerial candidate.

There are a large number of people belonging to scheduled castes, tribes as well as Dalit sections in the state but complaints of atrocities against them are increasing despite a host of measures taken by the Centre for their uplift.

The most oppressed and neglected are women as the state government "is making tall claims about women's empowerment without translating any scheme into action", he said adding, that no sincere effort was made to educate women in the state.

"Even pregnant women are not being looked after well. They are not getting nutritious food which is evident from the alarmingly high infant mortality rate in the state," the Prime Minister said.

Literacy rate among women in the state is declining sharply making the state more backward, he added.
Bureau Report