Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday strongly criticized the BJP, accusing it of harboring an “anti-Dalit and Manuvadi mindset”, after a BJP leader sprinkled Ganga water at a Ram temple in Alwar, Rajasthan, to “purify” it following the presence of Congress leader Tikaram Jully—a Dalit minister—at a Ram Navami consecration ceremony.
Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi wrote in Hindi, “Another example of BJP’s anti-Dalit and Manuvadi thinking! The BJP continues to insult Dalits and attack the Constitution.” He emphasized that India would be governed by the Constitution, not by Manusmriti, a controversial ancient text criticized for its caste-based prescriptions, which he said treats Bahujans (SC/ST/OBC communities) as “second-class citizens.”
Congress Demands Apology, BJP Denies Caste Bias
The incident occurred at a Ram temple located in a residential colony of Alwar, where Tikaram Jully participated in a religious event held on Ram Navami. A day later, BJP leader Gyandev Ahuja visited the temple and sprinkled Ganga jal (sacred water), claiming it was to “purify” the premises due to certain “discrepancies” during the earlier event.
The Congress has called this action a direct insult to Dalits and demanded an apology from the BJP’s top leadership. Party veterans, including Jully and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, condemned the act as casteist and discriminatory.
Ahuja Responds: “No Caste Angle”
In his defense, Ahuja dismissed the allegations of caste discrimination, insisting his actions were not directed at Jully’s Dalit identity but stemmed from the Congress Party’s past stance on religious matters.
“The Congress has no moral authority to participate in such ceremonies,” Ahuja said, citing past actions such as Sonia Gandhi’s affidavit in court describing Lord Ram as mythical and Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi boycotting the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya earlier.
He added, “The purification was necessary because of the Congress leadership’s repeated disrespect for Lord Ram.”
When reached by PTI, Ahuja reiterated that his actions were motivated by the Congress’ ideological position and not Jully’s caste background.
Jully Calls Out BJP’s “Mentality”
Jully, however, said that Ahuja’s justification was a cover for deep-rooted casteism and argued that the act was not just offensive to him personally but a broader attack on the faith of Dalits. He accused the BJP of promoting the crime of untouchability, masked under religious rhetoric.
“This is not just about me. This is about the BJP’s mindset toward Dalits and their place in society. It’s an attempt to revive a regressive mentality that our Constitution rejected,” Jully said.
A Larger Debate on Social Justice
The incident has triggered a larger political and social debate around caste, religion, and constitutional values. While the BJP maintains it was a matter of religious sentiment, the Congress has framed it as an attack on Dalit dignity and secular democracy.
Rahul Gandhi, who is currently attending the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session, emphasized the need to defend and protect the Constitution, saying that upholding its ideals is essential in the face of such incide