Dalits’ protest keeps Cong leaders busy

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23

The agitation by the Ravidasia community over the demolition of Guru Ravidas Temple at Tughlakabad in Delhi is keeping Punjab Congress leaders busy.

After suffering a drubbing at the hands of the Bahujan Samaj Party, especially in Doaba region, in the recently held parliamentary elections, Congress leaders left no stone unturned to firm their solidarity with the community by “unofficially” supporting the agitation — sending supporters and hiring buses to ferry them to the venue of agitation in Delhi two days ago.

The party ensured that its prominent Dalit leaders — Cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh and two MLAs, Sushil Rinku (Jalandhar) and Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal (Chabbewal) — participated in the massive protest in Delhi.

Refusing to see the issue through political perspective, state Technical Education Minister Channi said it was a sensitive issue that left the community furious. “We are doing everything to help the community. We are demanding reconstruction of the temple. The BJP has failed to consider the interest of the community.”

Much before the Delhi protest, the party leaders participated in the Punjab bandh call given on August 13. Two state ministers — Channi and Aruna Chaudhary, apart from Dalit MLA Santokh Singh, — sat on the dharna with the community leaders.

Prior to the bandh, the party leaders met representatives of various dera heads and assured them of full support in demanding reconstruction of the temple. MLA Sushil Rinku said due to party leaders’ intervention, the August 13 bandh passed off peacefully.

On August 15, CM Amarinder Singh at a meeting with seers and leaders of the community in Jalandhar reiterated that his government would extend all help to the community in pursuing the case for review of the SC’s demolition order and rebuilding the temple.

On the contrary, senior Dalit party leader Shamsher Dullo said: “The issue should not be politicised. I did not participate in the Delhi rally as it had been hijacked by political parties. The demolition of the historic temple had hurt sentiments of the community. People in large numbers had reached Delhi on their own.”

Tacit support 

• Congress sent supporters to the venue of agitation in Delhi and ensured that its prominent Dalit leaders, including Cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi, took part in the protest
• Much before the Delhi protest, party leaders participated in the Punjab bandh call on August 13
• Prior to the bandh, they met representatives of various dera heads and assured them of full support in demanding reconstruction of the temple