Congress President targets the BJP, saying, "Dalits' rights in education and employment are being taken away, and there's a conspiracy to weaken the Constitution."
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched his sharpest attack yet on the Modi government at the center. He accused the government of weakening the Constitution and trampling on the fundamental principles of social justice, especially the rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
Addressing the first meeting of the party’s newly formed “Scheduled Caste Advisory Committee,” Kharge said that the BJP’s policies have eroded all the achievements in the fields of education and employment, achieved through years of hard work by previous Congress governments. He expressed concern that the current regime is diluting the reservation system and attempting to justify discrimination.
“We will not allow the Constitution to be weakened.”
Kharge declared, “We will not allow Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution to be weakened at any cost.” He stressed that Congress will continue its fight to protect constitutional values. Turning the pages of history, he recalled that Congress began its fight against discrimination even before independence. This struggle resulted in the 1955 Civil Rights Protection Act, which criminalized untouchability. Subsequently, during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, the 1989 SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act was enacted, which recognized atrocities against Dalits as an attack on social justice.
Kharge explained that subsequent Congress governments further strengthened this law. They added stringent provisions such as a ban on anticipatory bail, speedy investigations, increased compensation for victims, and the establishment of special courts.
Education: The Greatest Weapon of Empowerment
Emphasizing the role of education in Dalit empowerment, Kharge detailed Congress initiatives. He credited the Congress with providing pre- and post-matric scholarships, hostels for Scheduled Caste students, the “Top Class Education Scheme,” and reservations in IITs, IIMs, and medical colleges. He also cited the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, saying these initiatives increased school enrollment and provided the country with millions of Dalit doctors, engineers, officers, and entrepreneurs.
Serious Allegations Against the Current Government
Kharge accused the Modi government of suppressing the voices of Dalits. He cited the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the Bhima Koregaon incidents, and alleged discrimination against Dalit students in universities. He said that the promotion of privatization, reductions in government jobs, weakening of reservations, and the decline in the recruitment of SC/ST faculty in higher educational institutions are a direct attack on social justice.
He accused the government of promoting a “Manuvadi mindset,” which justifies inequality rather than ensuring equality. Recalling Ambedkar’s words, Kharge said that a society’s progress is measured by how safe its weakest members are, but the current government has completely reversed this principle.
Roared at the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” rally
Later, addressing the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” rally held at Ramlila Maidan, Kharge further sharpened his tone. He called those involved in alleged vote theft “traitors” and accused them of betraying the country. He called on the public to oust such forces from power to protect voting rights and the Constitution.
Kharge warned that the RSS ideology would destroy the country. He appealed to the people to unite under the Congress flag, claiming that only the Congress party is capable of protecting democracy and constitutional values.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy: Hindi News