Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has alleged that the “deeply entrenched, discriminatory mindset of the BJP’s management and beliefs” was behind the alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual carried out at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani following get together president Mallikarjun Kharge’s go to.
“The foundation trigger is BJP’s Ideology: Excuses, remorse, or semantic deflections can’t masks the underlying drawback. This incident displays the deeply entrenched, discriminatory mindset of the BJP’s management and beliefs. We should not permit these accountable to evade accountability,” Tharoor mentioned in a press release on X.
Additionally Learn: Rahul Gandhi asks PM Modi to order FIR under SC/ST Act over ‘purification’ after Kharge’s rally
Tharoor mentioned the incident was not merely a political dispute, arguing that it had wider implications for Dalit residents.
“This isn’t a private subject or normal political back-and-forth. If the Nationwide President of the principal opposition get together, a pacesetter who has devoted many years to public service, might be subjected to this mindset, think about the on a regular basis actuality and indignities confronted by odd Dalit residents and kids throughout India,” he mentioned.
‘Justice for Kharge is justice for all Dalits’
Tharoor mentioned, “Justice for Kharge Ji is Justice for All Dalits,” and mentioned the Congress wouldn’t stay silent over the incident.
He additionally rejected makes an attempt to explain the alleged ritual as “shuddhikaran” or “safai”.
“Making an attempt to cover behind phrases like ‘shuddhikaran’ or ‘safai’, as @rahulgandhi identified, doesn’t erase the character of the act. Performing a ‘purification’ ritual following the presence of a outstanding Dalit chief is an act of untouchability. It’s unconstitutional, unacceptable, and a punishable offense below the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” Tharoor mentioned.
He demanded “concrete motion, accountability, and justice”, saying, “A criminal offense below the Structure stays a criminal offense no matter how it’s packaged.”
Rahul Gandhi seeks FIR
Tharoor’s remarks got here after Chief of Opposition within the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanded quick registration of an FIR below the SC/ST Act in opposition to these allegedly concerned within the ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual in Uttarakhand after Kharge’s go to.
“This act violates the SC/ST Act. Performing a ‘purification’ ritual is a criminal offense. But, no motion has been taken. Due to this fact, we demand that an FIR be registered instantly in opposition to those that carried out this purification ritual in Uttarakhand,” Gandhi mentioned.
Gandhi additionally questioned the BJP management over its reported response to the incident.
“The Prime Minister claims to belong to each caste and to be the Prime Minister of all of India. But, the state chief of his get together states that the purification was justified,” Gandhi mentioned.
“We would like the Prime Minister to right away order the registration of an FIR in opposition to these people below the SC/ST Act. It’s the responsibility of each the State Authorities and the Central Authorities to make sure that Kharge ji receives justice in Uttarakhand,” he mentioned.
