Cong conspired to manipulate Dalit voters in Phagwara: Malik

CHANDIAGRH: State BJPpresident Shwait Malik on Friday alleged that the Congress, during recent incidents of violence in Phagwara, had conspired to put Punjab on the brink of a “highly explosive” situation for manipulating Dalit voters in the 2019 General Election.

State BJP president Shwait Malik (R) addresses the media at the Press Club in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Chandiagrh, April 20

State BJPpresident Shwait Malik on Friday alleged that the Congress, during recent incidents of violence in Phagwara, had conspired to put Punjab on the brink of a “highly explosive” situation for manipulating Dalit voters in the 2019 General Election. He said this while addressing his first press conference at the Press Club here.

A member of the Rajya Sabha, Malik said, “We met Governor VP Singh Badnore on Thursday seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.”

The BJP president gave a list of 41 incidents of “Dalits’ exploitation” in Punjab since the Congress government took charge last year. Malik said the Congress, right from the beginning, did not allow good education to Dalits to facilitate them to rise socially and financially. “Dr BR Ambedkar was not given the place he deserved by the party. They have always been given the menial Class IV jobs of sweepers and peons and kept in background even in their own party. The community was only exploited as a vote bank,” he said.

Malik said, “Our government is developing five places as ‘panch teerth’ in his honour. Our party has given maximum Dalit MPs and MLAs. Verdict against SCs’ case has been given by the Supreme Court and we have filed a review petition.” Malik said, “There is an invisible government in Punjab. No ministers are visible among the common people and not even the Chief Minister. The government is being run by bureaucrats. Minister for Local Government Navjot Singh Sidhu has pointed out gaping loopholes in sand mining in the state. Differences between MP Pratap Singh Bajwa and CM Capt Amarinder Singh are a well-known fact. The expected announcement of portfolios to new ministers is bound to show the divided house of the party.”

The Congress had failed to keep its pre-poll promises of tablets, free mobile phones and even jobs for the youth. Adding the latest hike of 2.17 per cent in electricity charges for domestic consumers, the Congress had levied several more taxes, including development tax on income tax and certain others, he said. He pointed out that no development work had been carried out in the state.