Saturday, February 20, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Congress ridicules BJP’s dalit policy

http://www.asianage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3153:congress-ridicules-bjps-dalit-policy&catid=35:india&Itemid=60

Congress ridicules BJP's dalit policy

Saturday, 20 February 2010 02:55
New Delhi, Feb. 19: The Congress on Friday ridiculed the BJP's new
found love for dalits and asked why the party did not take action
against its leader and MP Arun Shourie for criticising dalit icon Dr
B.R. Ambedkar in his book.

Referring to Mr Shourie's controversial book on Ambedkar, Worshipping
False Gods, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the BJP had
neither taken any punitive action against the author of the book which
"demolished the principles of Ambedkar" nor distanced itself from its
content then.

He said BJP leader M.M. Joshi even opposed reservation for dalit
Muslims and Christians.

Saying that the BJP's new love for dalits is to get political mileage,
Mr Singhvi wondered on why the main Opposition did not even sought
clarification from Mr Shourie.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari's visit to the birth place of Dr B.R.
Amedkar exposes the "double-facedness and hypocrisy" of the main
Opposition party, views the Congress.

"They have done it for cheap electoral gains," Mr Singhvi said and
described the move as a "crude" attempt to seek votes. He said voters
will give a "resounding reply" to the BJP by rejecting it.

"When Congress does it they say it is a photo opportunity and when
they do, it is sincerity. Imitation is the best form of flattery and
BJP is indulging in flattery without limitation," he said, taking a
jibe at the "new-found love of BJP for dalits".

He also pointed out the BJP's Opposition to reservation for dalits who
have converted their religion.

On the other hand, the Congress has been committed to the upliftment
of dalits, he said and drew attention to how Dr Ambedkar was
associated with the Congress.

He said it was during Congress rule that a dalit became President, the
head of the judiciary and the first woman Speaker, adding "Congress
stood in word, spirit and letter" for dalit empowerment.

The Congress also took potshots at Mr L.K. Advani for his remarks that
it would badly lose if Lok Sabha polls are held now, terming the
senior BJP leader a "perennial Prime Minister-in-waiting" who is
living in a "dream world".

"Advaniji is again living in his dream world. He would like election
to happen every week because he still dreams of becoming the Prime
Minister, which he could not. He is a perennial Prime
Minister-in-waiting," Mr Singhvi said at the party briefing.

He said Mr Advani should realise that he would never become Prime
Minister even if elections are announced once again.

Age Correspondent


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