“The Congress party and its leader — the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi — have expressed concern regarding the discrimination Dalits still face today, citing several examples.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday expressed “concern” over the recent “purification” ritual at a venue in Uttarakhand where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a rally. If the social situation remains unchanged, it is certainly a matter of concern for our government as well; that is why we firmly articulate our stance on various issues,” Paswan, leader of Bihar-based LJP, an ally of the BJP, told the media.
“If the social situation remains unchanged, it is certainly a matter of concern for our government as well,” Union Minister Chirag Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is an ally of the BJP at the Centre, said.
“Those expressing concern today are the very people the country gave ample opportunity to for a long time after independence. However, he also questioned the Congress and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over what they did to stop discrimination against Dalits. How can they now claim that discrimination persists in society?” he asked. Paswan, whose late father was a central minister too, challenged those seeking changes to the constitutional basis of reservation to bring such a proposal before Parliament. Members of a right-wing group later performed a purification ritual at the venue. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had also raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that the ritual was linked to his identity as a Dalit leader. He later called for strict legal action and demanded registration of a case under the Untouchability Act against those who conducted the ritual. He claimed the state sees no discrimination.
The Haldwani controversy stems from a Congress rally held at Ramlila Maidan on August 8, ahead of the next year’s Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
“If discrimination continued in society despite this, it implies that they, too, failed to strengthen the foundations effectively,” Paswan said. “Regarding the question of reservation, we have clearly stated that since its very basis lies in social factors and discrimination, discussing it from an economic perspective goes against the Constitution,” the Union Minister said. “Let everyone come to the floor of the Lok Sabha and do it,” Paswan said. Uttarakhand Chief Minister has said no BJP worker was involved in the ritual. He claimed slogans were raised by “people from a specific religion” at the rally, and “in response, some religious organisations held a purification programme there”.
