CM Mann’s ‘remarks’ against MLA angers Doaba’s Dalit community

Tribune News Service

Deepkamal Kaur

Jalandhar, March 4

The issue of alleged objectionable comments by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann against Sukhwinder Kotli, Dalit Congress MLA from Adampur, in the Punjab Assembly can become a major issue in Dalit-dominated Doaba in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The Dalit community in Doaba has been touchy about the reportedly “insulting” comments. Deputy Leader of Opposition Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal termed the comments as casteist and demanded that the CM should be booked under the SC/ST (Prevention against Atrocities) Act.

The video of the emotional reaction of Kotli seen in the press conference outside the Assembly went immediately viral on the social media and became a common discussion in Jalandhar with the Dalit community taking an offensive opinion against the AAP leadership. The issue of appointment of Dalit Deputy Chief Minister had been raked even during the Lok Sabha bypoll last year in Jalandhar.

Former CM Charanjit S Channi termed the incident unfortunate and said the remarks made against Kotli reflected the kind of mentality of the Punjab CM. “It really was very unfortunate,” he said.

Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh has tweeted, “Insulting an elected representative of the Punjab Assembly points to the arrogance of the Aam Aadmi Party leader and his low level of thinking. People of Punjab will give a befitting reply to Bhagwant Mann’s language”.

Congress spokesperson Amritpal Bhonsle too said: “The anti-Dalit face of the CM has come to the fore with his comments against our leader today. In its manifesto, AAP had itself said they would have a Dalit Deputy CM, but did not implement it. When reminded, our SC MLA was insulted. The community will not tolerate the casteist remarks against its MLA”.

Not just the Congress, even BJP leader and former Union MoS Vijay Sampla has condemned the reaction of the CM. He tweeted: “The AAP party, which came on a promise to offer the Deputy CM’s post to a Dalit leader, is now talking of making a Dalit leader sniff shoes. Arvind Kejriwal should feel ashamed”.

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