New Delhi [India], August 29 : Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Saturday accused the BJP and RSS of harbouring an "anti-Dalit" mindset, alleging that repeated incidents targeting members of the Dalit community in BJP-ruled states were a result of support from the top leadership.
Reacting to the controversy surrounding an alleged incident involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Uttarakhand, Ramesh said it would not be surprising if those responsible were "honoured or rewarded" by the BJP-led state government.
"It wouldn't be surprising if the BJP's double-engine government in Uttarakhand honors or rewards in some way those who have displayed such anti-Dalit hatred toward Congress President Kharge ji. Such audacity only comes when there's backing from the top. Otherwise, what's the reason for such incidents to recur repeatedly in BJP-ruled states? At the core of the BJP-RSS ideology lies hatred toward Dalits. No matter how much of a mask they wear, this mindset keeps surfacing time and again," Ramesh said.
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Ramesh further accused the BJP-led government of failing to uphold the dignity and equality guaranteed by the Constitution and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the alleged incident.
"Baba Saheb's Constitution gave the deprived Dalit society so much strength that a person from that society could rise to such a high position in the country's politics. But those who harbour an anti-Constitution mindset could never accept this equality. And as for expecting even a single word from the Prime Minister--who has spent his time building and protecting his false prestige--against this attack on the dignity of such a senior Dalit leader of the country, that's out of the question. On the contrary, those who spread such hatred and untouchability often draw inspiration and encouragement from precisely such quarters," he added.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded immediate registration of an FIR under the SC/ST Act against those who allegedly carried out a 'shuddhikaran' or 'purification' ritual in Uttarakhand following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's visit.
Speaking in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said the alleged act violated the SC/ST Act and constituted a crime.
"This act violates the SC/ST Act. Performing a 'purification' ritual is a crime. Yet, no action has been taken. Therefore, we demand that an FIR be registered immediately against those who carried out this purification ritual in Uttarakhand," Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims to represent people belonging to every caste the BJP's state leadership had defended the 'purification' ritual.
"The Prime Minister claims to belong to every caste and to be the Prime Minister of all of India. Yet, the state chief of his party states that the purification was justified," Gandhi said.
He demanded that the Prime Minister direct the immediate registration of an FIR against those allegedly involved under the SC/ST Act.
"We want the Prime Minister to immediately order the registration of an FIR against these individuals under the SC/ST Act. It is the duty of both the State Government and the Central Government to ensure that Kharge ji receives justice in Uttarakhand," he said.
Responding to a separate question on the BJP's new organisational structure, Rahul Gandhi said he was not interested in the changes within the ruling party.
"To me, the BJP's new organisation and the old one are the same. It makes no difference to me. They can bring in whomever they wish; it doesn't matter to us," Gandhi said.
He said the Congress's political battle was based on ideology rather than the BJP's organisational changes.
"Our fight is one of ideology, a fight to save the Constitution. So, let them do whatever they want. We have no interest in it," the Lok Sabha LoP said.