Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi order an FIR towards these concerned within the “shuddikaran” or purification of the Ramlila floor in Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit, addressed a public assembly there.
Calling it a battle between two ideologies — the Structure versus the RSS-BJP’s views — Gandhi mentioned his celebration president should get justice and urged the federal government to take motion beneath the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
ALSO READ | BSP’s Mayawati targets ‘casteist, feudal elements’ over ‘stage purification’ after Kharge event in Haldwani
“Our demand is an FIR ought to be lodged on the earliest towards those that carried out Shuddikaran. The Prime Minister mentioned he belongs to all castes. His celebration chief in Uttarakhand claimed Shuddikaran was the best factor to do. We wish the PM to offer order to file an FIR beneath the SC/ST act. This present the BJP and RSS’ mindset. They don’t need a Dalit to turn into affluent and dwell respectfully. We aren’t asking for something not possible. In keeping with the Structure this can be a crime. We’re searching for justice for the Congress president. We aren’t asking something extra. It’s a responsibility of the state authorities and the nationwide authorities to make sure that Kharge ji will get justice in Uttarakhand,” Gandhi mentioned at a press convention on Saturday.
Enjoying a video that confirmed the BJP’s Uttarakhand chief supporting Shuddikaran, Gandhi mentioned, “It’s a reflection of PM’s ideology that he’s not saying something. BJP’s Uttarakhand chief has dedicated an unlawful act by justifying the act. However the PM is silent.”
ALSO READ | RS Chair seeks probe into ‘purification’ claim
Congress president had raised the problem of purification on the Congress Working Committee assembly on August 19 and had lamented that some celebration leaders didn’t take up the problem.
Gandhi, within the press convention, raised the bigger query of atrocities and violence confronted by Dalits in India, stating how Dalit college students are made to wash bathrooms in faculties, barred from consuming water from the village nicely or in tea retailers, given totally different cups and compelled to put on helmets to guard themselves from stone pelting throughout wedding ceremony processions. He alleged {that a} shuddikaran adopted after Union minister Jitin Ram Majhi visited a temple.
“That is performed by the BJP and RSS and this can be a crime based on the Structure. Shuddikaran is one other title for untouchability. Which is prohibited however BJP practises it,” Gandhi mentioned.
The Chief of the Opposition additional identified that Kharge addressed a rally on August 8. The Shuddikaran happened on August 10 by BJP-RSS staff. “20 days have handed however no case has been filed beneath the SC/ ST act. No motion has been taken,” he mentioned.
ALSO READ | Kharge raises Uttarakhand post-rally ‘purification’, Rajya Sabha chair seeks probe
The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act got here into power in 1995 to forestall atrocities and violence towards the weak sections. It has been amended to impose stricter punishment.
“He’s our president, and he should get justice right now or tomorrow. Kharge ji not getting justice isn’t going to be a risk. An FIR must be filed,” Gandhi mentioned.
Clarifying what occurred within the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Gandhi mentioned, “Kharge ji mentioned sure individuals didn’t help him. He by no means mentioned the overwhelming majority didn’t help him. I’ve spoken to Kharge ji. This isn’t the problem of Kharge alone. This is a matter of al Dalits in Hindustan. Now we have raised it however that is tip of iceberg. If such a factor can occur to our president who’s a senior chief, think about what is going on with a toddler. This isn’t acceptable for us.”
