Congress slams Modi over 'anti-Dalit' remark

Ahmedabad, May, 1 : Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s speech at a function to release his book, “Samajik Samrasta’’, early this week, in which he drew parallels between Dalits and ‘‘mentally retarded’’ children, returned to haunt him on Friday when Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted with several members slamming Modi for his comment.


Modi had said at the function on Monday that just as people give special treatment to mentally retarded children when they visit their houses, the Dalits, too, ought to be treated the same way. He also called upon the people to change their mindset toward untouchability. He said untouchability is still an issue in the country despite several spiritual gurus campaigning to eradicate it.


The Congress reacted sharply to the statement with Rajya Sabha member Pravin Rashtrapal criticizing Modi for comparing Dalits with the mentally retarded. Rashtrapal said this was an insult to the Constitution and Dr B R Ambedkar. He said, ‘‘Modi has revealed his mindset towards the Dalits. He garlanded Ambedkar’s statue only for dalit votes, but does not have any respect for the community.’’


The state government spokesperson, Jay Narayan Vyas, reacted sharply rebutting the criticism and said the charge against Modi was a fabrication. ‘‘The controversy has been triggered by the Congress leadership and has no substance. The state government has recorded the CM’s speech. He did not speak a single word of the sort being attributed to him,’’ Vyas said. Modi could not be reached for comments.


In the Lok Sabha, Congress MP P L Punia slammed Modi, saying such people should be barred from contesting elections. Punia, who attacked Modi while raising the issue of anti-Dalit riots in Mirchpur in the House on Friday, referred to Modi’s book which he said contained derogatory remarks about Dalits. “It is grave that there should be such mindset on a constitutional post. To stop such transgressions, a new law with stiff penalty for offenders is required,” a release quoted the MP as saying.