Kharge targets BJP for ‘atrocities’ against Dalits in states ruled by it

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP over the alleged caste-based atrocities committed against Dalits and Adivasis in states ruled by the saffron party, namely Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

“In Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah insults Babasaheb Ambedkar and the same anti-marginalised mentality is being repeated in the BJP-ruled states,” Kharge posted on X.

“It is well known that atrocities are being committed against Dalits, Adivasis, backward and minority communities under the anti-constitutional rule of the Modi government. Those who are poor and deprived are suffering the brunt of Manuwaad,” said Kharge, who is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha.

Kharge further cited recent incidents of caste-based atrocities, including the death of a Dalit youth in police custody in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas. He also pointed out another incident from Odisha’s Balasore, where an Adivasi woman was tied to a tree and beaten up.

Kharge further said, “A Dalit girl student from Haryana’s Bhiwani was forced to end her life after being unable to pay her BA exam fees.”

“In Maharashtra’s Palghar, an Adivasi woman who was pregnant died after she had to travel 100 km in search of an ICU. Three Dalit families in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar were forced to migrate because of caste-based attacks, while the police remained silent,” Kharge said.

He further asserted that Congress will not allow the constitutional rights of 140 crore Indians to be “violated.”

“Congress will continue to fight the anti-constitutional thinking of the BJP-RSS,” Kharge added.