The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday hit out at the Congress for observing hunger strikes across the country over alleged increase in atrocities on weaker sections under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and dubbed it a “drama” to launch party president Rahul Gandhi.
As Gandhi reached the Rajghat in New Delhi to observe the fast as per his party’s call, the BJP reminded the Congress and its leadership of alleged “ill-treatment” of Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar by the party’s leaders, including then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“The Congress has been doing politics of appeasement of the Dalits since the times of Nehru-ji. Today, they are doing a drama to launch party president Rahul Gandhi. The Congress can go to any extent to launch its leader,” BJP leader Sambit Patra saisd in New Delhi.
Accusing the Congress chief of playing “divisive politics” ahead of assembly polls in Karnataka, Patra said Gandhi cannot do away with the atrocities against the Dalits in the election-bound state as it was ruled by the Congress.
“In Gujarat, you (Congress) tried to divide the society in the name of the Patidars. You did the same thing in Haryana over the Jat reservation demand. In Madhya Pradesh, you went to Mandsaur to show solidarity with farmers while your leader was caught on camera provoking violence,” Patra said, accusing the Congress of using such occasions to “fast-track” to establish Gandhi as its leader.
“This is not fast – this is fast-tracking of Rahul Gandhi’s political career,” Patra said.
“Why doesn’t Rahul Gandhi sit on fast in Karnataka, where 9,080 cases of crimes against Dalits have been registered, 358 Dalits murdered and 809 Dalit women harassed under the Congress rule,” the BJP leader wondered.
“Why this double standards? Are Dalits of Karnataka not Dalits,” he asked.
Another BJP leader Bijay Sonkar Shastri dubbed Gandhi’s fast as “drama” to show solidarity with the Dalits and accused him of “vitiating” the atmosphere in the country after the March 20 Supreme Court order on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
“This is not Rahul Gandhi’s love for the Dalits. After spreading violence, he is doing the drama of non-violence,” Shastri said while listing out the government’s steps for the welfare of SCs/STs.
“Ever since Narendra Modi has become the prime minister, he has relentlessly been working for the welfare of the backward communities and that has the Congress worried,” Shastri said and urged the Dalits not to fall for what he called the Congress “propaganda”.
The Congress’ fast began on a controversial note, with 1984-riot accused leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar leaving the stage before party Gandhi joined the event.
Tytler and Kumar were seen leaving the Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial soon after their arrival, apparently after being told to leave due to their alleged links with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.
Tytler, who was later seen in the crowd, has long been accused of instigating rioters against Sikhs following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh security guards. Kumar is also accused of his involvement in two cases related to the riots. The charges have, however, not been proved against either.
On being asked by reporters, Tytler said: “Who is leaving? I will sit here with the workers. I am not going anywhere.”
Asked why he left the place which was meant for the leaders, he said: “I was sitting there. I am coming from there.”