Expressing her worry at the 'distressing rise' in atrocities against Dalits across the country, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Bill for passage in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament.

"It is important for the ends of justice to ensure that a fair and impartial inquiry is conducted in these cases and the guilty are punished as per law. However, it is equally important to ensure that the institutional machinery charged with the welfare and protection of Dalits is strengthened and made accountable so that all Dalits are able to access justice as a matter of right," Sonia Gandhi wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Modi.

The Congress president termed it a disappointment that the NDA government had allowed the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, 2014, to lapse by sending it to the standing committee.

"It is with this intention that the UPA-2 government brought in the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, 2014 which among other things sought to strengthen the implementation of the SC and STs (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989). It is a matter of disappointment that NDA government allowed the ordinance to lapse by sending it to the standing committee," she said.

"I therefore urge you to bring the Bill for passage in the upcoming monsoon session," Sonia stated. (ANI)

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