Mumbai, Nov 3 (IANS): Hoping to embarrass the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre, the Maharashtra Congress on Tuesday announced three days of protests against growing atrocities on Dalits and the contentious farm laws, an official said here.
On Wednesday, hundreds of Congress activists will march to Chaityabhoomi - the memorial of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in Mumbai - as part of the 'Oppose Women & Dalit Atrocities Day', said State Congress President and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat.
"Women and Dalits are not safe under the BJP government's tenure...There is a significant increase in atrocities against them, but instead of punishing the criminals, the BJP government has supported them," said Thorat.
Mumbai Congress President Eknath Gaikwad said that the 4-hour protest on Wednesday will highlight the 'unjust and oppressive BJP governments' at the Centre and in the states ruled by the party.
"The country has witnessed atrocities against the Valmiki family of Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, and the Congress is fighting for justice for the victim's family. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule and in all the BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh, there has been a huge increase in incidents of atrocities against women and the Dalit community," Gaikwad said.
The two leaders alleged that instead of booking and punishing the culprits, the BJP governments in different states openly supported such criminals.
On Thursday and Friday, the Congress will hold massive Tractor Rallies in Kolhapur and Sangli districts to oppose and demand the repeal of the newly enacted Farm Laws.
Terming them as 'anti-farmer and black laws', Thorat said the Congress will continue to protest till the laws are revoked in the interest of the country's farming community.
Hundreds of farmers in both the districts of western Maharashtra shall join the Tractor Rally on both days, he added.
Earlier, the Congress organised an online rally of farmers and later observed a Kisan Adhikar Day in which the farm laws and labour laws came in for stringent criticism.