Rahul Gandhi vows action over Kharge insult in Uttarakhand
This act violates the SC/ST Act. Purification of a place is a crime.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked the Modi government over the violence and atrocities against Dalits. Rahul Gandhi demanded the filing of an FIR under the SC/ST Act against those conducting 'purification' rituals after a rally by party president Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
It is noteworthy that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally at Ramleela Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. Two days later, members of the Shri Ram Sena conducted a 'purification havan' at the same ground. The Congress alleges that this ritual was conducted because Kharge is a Dalit.
At Indira Bhavan in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi stated that this incident is a crime under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Rahul Gandhi said,
This act is a violation of the SC/ST Act. Conducting a 'purification' of a place is a crime, but no action has been taken so far. Therefore, we demand that an FIR be immediately filed against those who conducted this ritual in Uttarakhand.
He said, “We are seeking justice for the Congress President. If not today, then tomorrow justice will be served. Forget that Kharge Ji will not get justice.
In a warning tone, Rahul said,
The Congress has decided that it will ensure justice for its president in Uttarakhand. “If no action is taken, our reaction will follow.” He linked the entire controversy to the fight for the Constitution and social equality, stating that “the BJP's new and old organizations are the same. Our fight is to save the Constitution.
The Leader of Opposition said,
“BJP and RSS workers are practicing untouchability, which is a legal offense. “Purification is just another name for discrimination.”
In the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that there is a battle between two ideologies in the country. On one side is the Constitution of India— the Constitution of B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel. On the other side is the ideology of the BJP and RSS. The politics happening in India right now is between these two ideologies. On this issue, Rahul Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned the BJP leadership's response.
He said,
For thousands of years, Dalits have faced atrocities and violence in this country. The Constitution has made it illegal, yet even today, Dalit children are made to clean toilets and sweep floors in schools. Just think about the impact this has on the minds of the coming generation. Children see some of their peers sweeping, while those sweeping see others who don't have to do it. This is the reality of India.
Rahul Gandhi further said,
Even today, Dalits are not allowed to drink water from the village well. They had to dig private wells for themselves because they were barred from using the common village well. At tea stalls, you see two types of cups— one reusable glass cup that can be washed, and another paper or plastic cup that is discarded after use. The plastic or paper cups are for Dalits, while the glass cups are for others. This is the reality of India. This is the reality of Uttar Pradesh, this is the reality of North India, and you can see it in cities and villages.
Rahul Gandhi said,
Modi claims that he belongs to every caste and is the Prime Minister of all of India. Yet, his party's leaders say that the purification was justified.
He further said,
We want the Prime Minister to immediately direct the filing of an FIR under the SC/ST Act against these people. Ensuring justice for Kharge Ji in Uttarakhand is the responsibility of both the state and central governments.”
The controversy began after the 'purification' ritual at Ramleela Maidan in Haldwani. Kharge had addressed a Congress rally at the same ground. Congress leaders linked this ritual to Kharge's Dalit identity, calling it a case of caste discrimination. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, also raised this issue in Parliament. He questioned why there was a need for purification after his speech. Union Minister J.P. Nadda called the incident unfortunate and stated that the BJP does not support any such act. He also assured the House of an investigation into the matter.
The Congress has been continuously demanding action in this matter. A party delegation met Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retired) on August 24, seeking an impartial investigation. The Congress alleged that despite Nadda's assurance, no concrete action has been taken so far.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that despite constitutional safeguards, Dalits still face discrimination and persecution today. He also accused the BJP and RSS of promoting untouchability. Rahul Gandhi said,
“There is a battle between two ideologies in the country, and the entire politics of the country revolves around these ideologies. For thousands of years, Dalits have faced persecution. Under the Indian Constitution, this discrimination is illegal, yet these communities have to struggle at every step. The more successful a Dalit becomes, the more attacks they face.