- Union Minister Chirag Paswan questioned Congress and Rahul Gandhi on Dalit discrimination persistence
- Paswan stated long-term Congress rule failed to eradicate social discrimination since independence
- He argued reservation is based on social, not economic, factors and is constitutional
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday expressed "concern" over the recent "purification" ritual at a venue in Uttarakhand where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a rally. "The Congress party and its leader -- the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi -- have expressed concern regarding the discrimination Dalits still face today, citing several examples. If the social situation remains unchanged, it is certainly a matter of concern for our government as well; that is why we firmly articulate our stance on various issues," Paswan, leader of Bihar-based LJP, an ally of the BJP, told the media.
However, he also questioned the Congress and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over what they did to stop discrimination against Dalits. "Those expressing concern today are the very people the country gave ample opportunity to for a long time after independence. How can they now claim that discrimination persists in society?" he asked.
"If discrimination continued in society despite this, it implies that they, too, failed to strengthen the foundations effectively," Paswan said.
On a separate thread, he said the basis of reservation was social discrimination and argued that it should not be viewed from an economic perspective.
"Regarding the question of reservation, we have clearly stated that since its very basis lies in social factors and discrimination, discussing it from an economic perspective goes against the Constitution," the Union Minister said.
The Dalit leader was speaking about the issue of sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes for reservation based on economic status. The issue was raised recently by another Dalit leader Santosh Kumar Suman, a Bihar minister from BJP ally HAM, whose father Jitan Ram Manjhi is a central minister.
Paswan, whose late father was a central minister too, challenged those seeking changes to the constitutional basis of reservation to bring such a proposal before Parliament. "Let everyone come to the floor of the Lok Sabha and do it," Paswan said.
The issue also got spotlight recently when a protest was held in New Delhi against caste-based quotas.
Majhi has said Chirag belongs to a caste that has got most of the quota benefits, while others among the SCs remain backward.
As for the Uttarakhand "purification" row, Rahul Gandhi had earlier in the day attacked the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the ritual conducted at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani following Kharge's August 8 rally, calling it "another name for untouchability". "Only BJP and RSS members do this, and it is a crime. Under India's Constitution, this is a crime, a criminal activity. 'Purification' is actually just another name for untouchability. Untouchability was outlawed, yet BJP members practice it openly," Gandhi had said. "When they perform this purification, they are effectively saying that Dalits should not be touched, that Dalits are unclean, and this constitutes a crime under the Indian Constitution," Gandhi said.
The Haldwani controversy stems from a Congress rally held at Ramlila Maidan on August 8, ahead of the next year's Uttarakhand Assembly elections. Members of a right-wing group later performed a purification ritual at the venue. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had also raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that the ritual was linked to his identity as a Dalit leader. He later called for strict legal action and demanded registration of a case under the Untouchability Act against those who conducted the ritual.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister has said no BJP worker was involved in the ritual. He claimed slogans were raised by "people from a specific religion" at the rally, and "in response, some religious organisations held a purification programme there". He claimed the state sees no discrimination.
