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New Delhi, September 29: Congress on Tuesday organized ‘Dalit-Tribal Self-Respect Meeting’ at Mavalankar Hall of the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. In the meeting, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe leaders from different states expressed concern over issues related to dignity, security and constitutional rights of Dalits and tribals.
In the meeting, a proposal was made by the SC and ST MP Forum of Congress to condemn the alleged ‘purification’ incident that took place after the meeting of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani. The resolution described the dignity of Dalits and tribals, abolition of untouchability, equality before law, protection from discrimination and equal access to essential public services as constitutional responsibilities. The proposal was unanimously adopted by the members of the Congress SC and ST MP Forum present in the meeting.
The resolution said that the forum will raise these issues in appropriate parliamentary, constitutional and democratic forums and demand accountability from the concerned governments and officials. Mukul Wasnik, Alka Lamba, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, K. were present in the meeting. Other leaders including Raju, Sukhdev Bhagat, Rajendra Pal Gautam, Neha Shilpi Tirkey, Bandhu Tirkey, Rajesh Kachhap, Rameshwar Oraon, Suresh Baitha and Naman Viksal Kongadi participated.
Congress MP Mallu Ravi said that the purpose of the meeting is to show that MPs, MLAs, ministers, Legislative Council members and other public representatives belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are united against the alleged discrimination against Mallikarjun Kharge and the purification ritual conducted in Haldwani. He alleged that through this incident an attempt was made to insult Kharge, Congress and the entire SC and ST community.
Ravi said that India has been governed according to the Constitution for the last 76 years and such purification ritual is not in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution. He said that Rahul Gandhi has demanded a detailed investigation into the incident and action against those responsible, but according to him, no FIR has been registered against the culprits so far. Ravi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet given any statement on this issue.
Congress Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, reacting to the statement of Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, said that he does not take Sanjay Singh seriously. He said that Samajwadi Party and Congress will contest elections together in Uttar Pradesh and Sanjay Singh should not comment on this issue. Gautam accused the Aam Aadmi Party of being against Dalits, tribals and backward classes and staying away from social justice issues.
Gautam also commented on the issue of viewing public responsibilities on the basis of caste. Cases of caste system and untouchability come to the fore in the society, but a person holding a big responsibility should not make statements on the basis of caste. There are people from different castes in every party, but injustice should not be seen on the basis of caste. According to him, caste system and untouchability exist in some cases, but instead of looking at the Haldwani case on this basis, attention should be paid to the incident and the alleged injustice related to it.
