Attempt to create rift in communities: Giriraj Singh attacks Rahul Gandhi over ‘untouchability’ remark
Patna, Aug 30 (IANS) Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday accused Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, of “attempting to create infighting” among social communities in his “pursuit of power”.
The Union Minister’s reaction comes a day after Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi direct the filing of an FIR against those allegedly involved in the “shuddikaran” or purification of the Ramlila ground in Haldwani after Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting there.
“This is done by BJP-RSS members, and it is a crime under the Indian Constitution. The word ‘Shuddhikaran (purification)’ is just another word for untouchability,” the LoP had stated.
Speaking to IANS, Giriraj Singh said: “The whole country knows that Khargeji is a mask. Whatever Rahulji says, he repeats. He (Kharge) cannot speak beyond that.”
“Rahul Gandhi is now thinking about how to create infighting among communities in a society, whether in the name of students or others,” he remarked.
On Saturday, the Leader of Opposition also alleged that caste discrimination could be seen at tea stalls.
“At tea stalls, you see two types of cups in use: a reusable glass cup that can be washed, and a paper or plastic cup that is discarded after use. The plastic or paper cups are for Dalits, while the glass ones are for others,” he alleged.
Reacting to it, Giriraj Singh said: “I think this is what is going on in Rahul Gandhi’s mind these days…I have seen on social media that Khargeji, Rahulji and Soniaji were there (at an event). Khargeji was giving water, but they didn’t drink that. So, they themselves are propagating untouchability.”
He asserted that the entire country is against the practise of untouchability.
“I have seen the picture of the tea shop where he (Rahul Gandhi) himself was drinking tea in a glass cup while the others were served in paper cups. So, I think that this drama is a mischief by him only,” Singh claimed.
The Union Minister further accused LoP Gandhi of not being concerned about the Dalit community.
“He is only concerned about ruling the country. For him, it doesn’t matter whether this pursuit of power sets the whole country on fire or creates a divide between Dalits and non-Dalits,” Singh alleged.
Echoing a similar view, BJP National Secretary Rohan Gupta said: “Congress unsuccessfully tried to do politics in the name of Dalits even during the Lok Sabha elections and attempted to divide people by showing a copy of the Constitution. But the party needs to look into its own record.”
“When they talk about the Constitution, why does appeasement dominate the Constitution? Why is only one religion talked about? Why does their Telangana Chief Minister say that ‘Congress means Muslims, Muslims means Congress’? So, Congress is making an unsuccessful attempt to hide appeasement behind the Constitution,” he told IANS.
–IANS
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