The political atmosphere in New Delhi intensified on Saturday as the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a sharp attack on the Congress party's first family. The BJP accused the Gandhi–Vadra family of displaying "open hate" for Dalits, a charge that stems from a recent press conference held by the opposition party.
The Spark: A Press Conference Interruption
The controversy erupted shortly after a Congress press briefing. During the event, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated he would not read a full note aloud and would instead circulate the written text to media persons. Moments later, he was interrupted by the party's General Secretary, Jairam Ramesh, who urged him to read the note out loud. Kharge then complied with the direction.
Seizing on this exchange, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared a clip on social media platform X. He posted, "Be it Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi or Jairam Ramesh, their hate for a 'DALIT' is so open!" Bhandari framed the incident as a clear sign of disrespect shown by the party's top leadership towards its own Dalit President, suggesting he was being directed and overruled.
Congress's Stance and Protest Announcement
The press conference was called to address a significant policy decision by the central government. The Congress announced a nationwide protest against the Centre's move to replace the rural employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA. The party referred to the new legislation as the 'VB G Ram G Act'.
Following a Congress Working Committee meeting, Kharge strongly criticized the decision. He argued that replacing a scheme named after Mahatma Gandhi amounted to an insult to the Father of the Nation. Adding his voice, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi made a serious allegation. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the decision to scrap MGNREGA without consulting relevant ministers or even the Union Cabinet.
Rahul Gandhi pledged strong resistance, aligning with Kharge's position. "As Kharge ji has said, we are going to resist it. We are going to fight it. And I'm confident that the entire opposition is going to be aligned against this action," the LoP stated.
Political Repercussions and Accusations
The BJP's accusation has shifted the narrative from the policy debate to a charged allegation of caste-based disrespect within the Congress hierarchy. By highlighting the dynamic between Kharge and other senior leaders, the saffron party aims to question the Congress's commitment to social justice and its internal treatment of Dalit leaders.
This incident is likely to fuel further political sparring in the coming days, with both sides digging in on their positions. The Congress is mobilizing against the government's flagship rural scheme overhaul, while the BJP is countering with allegations that strike at the heart of the opposition's social equity credentials.
