NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the BJP of harboring an "anti-Dalit mindset" after its leader Gyandev Ahuja sprinkled Ganga water at a Ram temple in Rajasthan’s Alwar to “purify” it following the visit of Dalit Congress leader Tikaram Jully for a consecration ceremony.
Calling it another example of BJP's "Manuvadi thinking", Rahul said in a post on X, “BJP has been continuously insulting Dalits and attacking the Constitution. That’s why it is important not just to respect the Constitution but also protect it. Modi ji, the country will be run by the Constitution and its ideals, not by Manusmriti, which considers Bahujans as second-class citizens.”
The Congress had earlier demanded an apology from the BJP’s top leadership, calling Ahuja’s act discriminatory and offensive.
BJP leader Gyandev Ahuja, however, denied the allegation of caste bias, stating that his action was not directed at Jully’s caste but was in response to Congress’ past stand questioning the existence of Lord Ram and its boycott of the Ayodhya consecration ceremony.
“I went there and sprinkled Ganga water to purify the temple premises. The Congress leadership has no moral authority to attend such programmes,” Ahuja said, reiterating that his act was symbolic of his protest against the party’s ideological stance.
Jully, a Dalit leader and cabinet minister in the former Congress government, said Ahuja’s move was an “insult to his faith” and showed the BJP’s mentality towards Dalits. “This is not just an act of disrespect but an effort to encourage untouchability,” he said.
The consecration ceremony was held on Sunday in a residential society of Alwar on the occasion of Ram Navami, and Jully was invited as a guest.
Calling it another example of BJP's "Manuvadi thinking", Rahul said in a post on X, “BJP has been continuously insulting Dalits and attacking the Constitution. That’s why it is important not just to respect the Constitution but also protect it. Modi ji, the country will be run by the Constitution and its ideals, not by Manusmriti, which considers Bahujans as second-class citizens.”
The Congress had earlier demanded an apology from the BJP’s top leadership, calling Ahuja’s act discriminatory and offensive.
BJP leader Gyandev Ahuja, however, denied the allegation of caste bias, stating that his action was not directed at Jully’s caste but was in response to Congress’ past stand questioning the existence of Lord Ram and its boycott of the Ayodhya consecration ceremony.
“I went there and sprinkled Ganga water to purify the temple premises. The Congress leadership has no moral authority to attend such programmes,” Ahuja said, reiterating that his act was symbolic of his protest against the party’s ideological stance.
Jully, a Dalit leader and cabinet minister in the former Congress government, said Ahuja’s move was an “insult to his faith” and showed the BJP’s mentality towards Dalits. “This is not just an act of disrespect but an effort to encourage untouchability,” he said.
The consecration ceremony was held on Sunday in a residential society of Alwar on the occasion of Ram Navami, and Jully was invited as a guest.
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