A day after Congress termed him as a constitutional functionary rather than a party functionary, NCSC chairman Buta Singh said on Tuesday that he was capable of defending his case and does not need any support from the party.
Describing himself a saviour of Dalits, Singh claimed he has served the community throughout his life and threatened that he would "give up his life if he was asked to resign".
"I do not think I need support of party (Congress) to defend my case. I am capable of it (defending) because I am with the truth," he told reporters in New Delhi.
The CBI had, last week, arrested Singh's son in Mumbai on charges of demanding a bribe of Rs one crore from Nashik-based contractor Rama Rao Patil to close a case pending before the NCSC against him.
"I have saved lives of poor Dalits. And for my entire life since I have been in politics, I kept on raising the issues of SCs and STs in Parliament and outside Parliament. I will not leave the work I have done throughout my life. And for this if anyone ask me to resign, I will not resign, I will give up my life," he added.
"I have served Dalits and extreme Dalits. And in doing that, I caught one very big anti-Dalit and an enemy of Dalit. Enemies of Dalits have now come together with Rama Rao Patil to finish me," he charged.
To a question whether he met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Singh said, "Why do you ask me such questions? Why should I meet anyone in this matter? Should I beg? Everybody knows about my past. I am working that is also known."
