Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has urged the Karnataka Government to honour the Supreme Court directive and release Cauvery water due for Tamil Nadu.

Addressing media persons in Kumbakonam today, he said caste feeling was the reason behind incidents of attacks on Dalits in the country. “The ruling BJP is not responsible for such incidents that took place in the country. Inter-caste marriage alone is the only solution to this problem,” Athawale said.

The Minister claimed that the Centre was keen in protecting the Dalits and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sympathetic towards Dalits. “The Central Government has allotted Rs. 200 crores for the economic development of Dalits in the country. The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry is distributing scholarships to the tune of Rs. 3,000 crores to Dalit students every year,” he added.

The Minister appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to take stern action against those who unleashed attacks on Dalits. He also urged the leaders of various Dalit organisations to strive for the development and uplift of the oppressed.