PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The alleged purification of the ground where the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally in Haldwani has become an issue of accusations and counter accusations between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress in Uttarakhand. On Saturday, the workers of the Schedule Caste cell of State Congress and Mahanagar Congress organised a protest march towards the residence of State BJP president Mahendra Bhatt. The Congress claims that Bhatt has justified the purification of Haldwani ground after the rally of Kharge.
Led by the president of SC cell Madan Lal and president Mahanagar Congress Jaswinder Singh Gogi, the Congress party workers assembled at the Yamuna Colony Chowk in the afternoon and started the march towards the residence of Bhatt. The police however stopped the workers and a minor skirmish occurred between them and the party workers.
Addressing the protesters, the president of SC cell, Madan Lal said that the Congress Party will not tolerate any comments against the Constitution and democratic values. He said the BJP’s anti-Dalit mind-set will be exposed before the people of the State. Lal said that the Dalit community is now fully aware of its rights and dignity. He added that the party will continue to raise its voice for respect, protecting rights and social justice of the Dalit community.
The president of Mahanagar Congress, Jaswinder Singh Gogi said that the statements made by BJP leaders that hurt the dignity of the Dalit community are extremely unfortunate and condemnable. He said that the Constitution guarantees equality, respect and rights to every citizen of the country, but the BJP’s policies and the statements of its leaders are continuously undermining social harmony. Gogi stated that the Congress Party has always fought to protect the Constitution, democracy and social justice. The dignity of the Dalit community will not be compromised. He demanded that the BJP leadership take immediate action against the leaders who made the objectionable statements and publicly apologize to the Dalit community.
