BJP leader Sampla accuses AAP govt of being anti-Dalit

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister of State, Vijay Sampla, has strongly criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, accusing it of being "anti-Dalit" and referring to it as a "disaster government" that has failed to deliver on its promises.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Sampla targeted the AAP government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for trying to blame the BJP for being against Dalits while, according to him, it is the AAP government that has shown disregard for the Dalit community. He pointed to the case of Manjinder Singh Lalpura, who was found guilty by a court for misbehaving with a Dalit girl but was not removed from the party. "This clearly exposes the party's real face," Sampla said.

Sampla further criticised the AAP government for not fulfilling its promises to the Dalit community, particularly with regard to housing. He alleged that despite the AAP's commitment to build houses for Dalits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the state has failed to contribute its 40 per cent share, delaying the construction of homes.

He also accused the Punjab government of neglecting the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, alleging that the state had failed to contribute its share and frequently closed the scholarship portal, unlike the central government which keeps it open throughout the year.

Emphasising the BJP's commitment to Dalits, Sampla highlighted that the central government has built memorials for Dr BR Ambedkar and launched several schemes to support Scheduled Castes and backward communities. He also mentioned the Punjab government's unfulfilled promise of Rs 51,000 for Dalit girls under the Shagun Scheme at the time of marriage, stating that no one has yet received the benefit.