Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Aug: The BJP today accused the Congress of using caste politics as a shield to deflect allegations of Muslim appeasement and alleged that the Opposition party was spreading misinformation in the name of Dalits to vitiate the atmosphere and tarnish the image of Uttarakhand.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP State Headquarters here today, Cabinet Minister and BJP spokesperson, Khajan Das asserted that BJP has never sought to divide society on the basis of the caste, the religion or class, nor does it support any such activity, but alleged that in its desperation to return to power, the Congress has crossed all political limits in spreading what he termed as utter lies and confusion.
Das said that the BJP has always sought to take all the sections of society along on the path of development. Uttarakhand, he said, is Devbhoomi, the sacred land of Char Dham and numerous other pilgrimage centres, where people belonging to all sections of society enjoy equal rights and respect. He urged the Congress leaders to stop denying the facts and misleading the public over the purification programme.
Das reminded that the programme in question had been organised by a social organisation named Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Nyas. Office-bearers of the organisation had themselves clarified that it was a social organisation and had no connection with the BJP. Linking the programme with the BJP without verifying the facts, he said, reflects the Congress’s political desperation. Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Nyas had also clarified that there was no anti-Dalit sentiment behind the programme. According to the organisation, the programme was organised in protest against alleged Islamic slogans raised at a rally addressed by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and the alleged presence of elements opposed to Hinduism.
Khajan Das directly accused the Congress of turning religious and social incidents into political controversies by allegedly spreading misinformation for the sake of appeasement and vote-bank politics. Instead of indulging in such politics, he urged, the Congress should rise above narrow political considerations and focus on maintaining brotherhood, peace, unity and social harmony in the state. He alleged that while the Congress is projecting the issue as one concerning Dalit rights and dignity, its real objective is to shield what he termed its politics of Muslim appeasement.
He also questioned the alleged silence of Congress leaders over the reported raising of “Allah-ho-Akbar” slogans in connection with the controversy surrounding a Ramlila stage. He alleged that the Congress is now attempting to divert attention from uncomfortable political questions by trying to divide Sanatan society. Das further stated that the Congress should first answer for its silence before accusing others of being anti-Dalit, the party should look into its own political history.
Referring to historical events, Khajan Das asked what answer the Congress had regarding the electoral defeat of Dr BR Ambedkar during the 1952-54 period. He further alleged that Dr Ambedkar was not conferred the Bharat Ratna during the years of Congress rule and that the country’s highest civilian honour was eventually bestowed on him in 1990. He alleged that the Congress had also failed to give the chief architect of the Constitution the honour he deserved while several of its own leaders were conferred the Bharat Ratna during Congress rule.
The BJP leader said the Congress, which is now seeking political mileage in the name of Dr Ambedkar, should answer questions concerning its own past. He alleged that the party’s professed concern for Dalits is limited to issuing political statements and that Congress leaders should first account for their record in government before speaking about Dalit dignity and rights.
Khajan Das further referred to an incident involving Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, who himself belongs to the Dalit community. He claimed that when Arya had left the Congress, his photograph was allegedly thrown on the ground and he was treated in an undignified manner outside the Congress Bhawan. He said the alleged incident raised serious questions over the Congress’s claims of respect for Dalits.
Khajan Das also questioned the Congress over the alleged threat issued by a maulana in Rudrapur. He asked why the Congress had remained silent on the matter and demanded that the party explain why its leaders had not come out openly against what he described as a serious incident. He questioned whether the Congress’s politics had become so dependent on vote-bank considerations that it was reluctant even to speak against politics based on threats and fear.
BJP State Secretary and BJP Scheduled Morcha state president Balbir Ghuniyal, Scheduled Morcha state vice-president Ravindra Valmiki, state general secretary Vinod Lakkha, Dr Sumer Chand Ravi, Ranjit Singh Jakhi, Dayaram and several other party workers were among those present at the press conference.
