Rahul Gandhi stopped from entering Saharanpur, blames Centre for Dalit-Thakur clashes

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi blamed the Union government on Saturday for the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur but was blocked from entering the town torn apart by caste clashes that has killed three people and injured scores.

Gandhi was speaking at the border of the western UP district rocked by clashes between Dalit and Thakur communities that has also seen more than 50 houses of Scheduled Caste families burnt down.

"Dalits are being crushed not only in Saharanpur but all over the country and the BJP-led Centre is responsible," he said after



interacting with Dalit families who had come from Shabbirpur, the epicentre of the current caste clashes in the communally-sensitive Sahranpur district.

Gandhi met two Dalit brothers, Badal and Sawan, whose hut was attacked in the violence on May 9 and ensured them a fair probe into the incident.

"I asked him (Gandhi) to ensure that cases against Dalits and the Bhim Army are withdrawn," said seven-year-old Badal after meeting Gandhi.

The Bhim Army is a group of youths that claims to fight for Dalit rights and is also accused of inciting the violence.