Cong slams RSS chief’s call for dialogue on reservation, alleges conspiracy against Dalit, OBCs

Alleging that the RSS and BJP are attempting to make changes in the Constitution, the Congress on Monday lashed out at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remarks on reservation and said it is a well planned conspiracy to end reservation for Dalit and Backward communities.

Addressing media persons at AICC headquarters, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, along with Rajya Sabha MP and former chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Caste and former MP and Dalit leader Dr Udit Raj, alleged that atrocities against Dalits and Tribals are not hidden under BJP-led rule and they are trying to distract people from real issues by making controversial statements.

“The only motive behind BJP’s decisions is to distract people. Be it demonetisation or Article 370. People have to understand this trap of BJP, that they try to divert the attention of people from the main issues. The atrocities on tribals and Dalits are not hidden”, said  Khera.

He also said that “it has become the habit of the BJP and RSS to keep raking up issues and creating conflict in the society, issues on which opinions are sharply divided, that can divert voters’ attention from day to day problems of the government”.

The Congress’s response came a day after  Bhagwat had called for a cordial dialogue between those who are opposing and those who are favouring reservation.

Referring to this, Punia alleged that the saffron camp has well-planned conspiracy to end reservation and said that they want to end this under the cover of a debate.

“Baba Saheb believed that socio-economic inequality would be a challenge. Reservation was brought in place for the same reason. BJP has always been trying to change the Constitution. They always advocate abolishing the Constitution. Now they want to debate reservation”, he added.

Mr Punia also condemned the demolition of Sant Ravi Das temple in Delhi, and added, “this all happened because of ‘land use’ being misrepresented. These examples show the mindset of the BJP. These people are anti Dalits and Tribals”.

Dr Udit Raj, who joined the Congress from BJP just before the Lok Sabha polls, said the BJP is targeting all communities including Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs.

“They want to take away reservation from all these communities. They want people to fight among themselves because of reservation. The goal is to spread hatred. These people have also been against OBC reservation”, he alleged.

Earlier in the day, AICC communication in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala also criticised Bhagwat and stated that RSS-BJP’s anti Dalit-backward face has been exposed.

“Attack on the rights of the poor, changing Constitutional rights, snatching the rights of Dalits-backwards. This is the real BJP agenda,”, he said in a tweet.

“The conspiracy to end reservation for the poor and the policy of changing the Constitution have been exposed”, the Congress leader said in another tweet.

(UNI)