Marginalized people are suffering the brunt of Manuvaad’: Kharge on ‘caste-based attacks’

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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in various states of harboring a discriminatory mindset against marginalized communities, attributing their suffering to the prevalence of ‘Manuvaad.’

In a post written in Hindi on X, Kharge alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah insulted Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Parliament, claiming this reflects a broader pattern of disdain for deprived sections of society. According to him, this mindset is evident in the actions of BJP-ruled states, where atrocities against marginalized groups have become a recurring issue.

Kharge pointed to several recent incidents as examples of this troubling trend. He cited the case of a Dalit youth, Mukesh Longre, who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district. Longre had been summoned to the Satwas Police Station on December 26 following a complaint against him. His death on Saturday sparked protests from his family, who alleged that he was murdered.

In another incident, Kharge highlighted the plight of tribal women in Odisha’s Balasore district, who were tied to trees and beaten, allegedly over accusations of attempting religious conversions. Odisha Police later arrested three individuals in connection with the assault.

Kharge also pointed to other distressing examples of systemic neglect and caste-based violence. In Bhiwani, Haryana, a Dalit girl was forced to commit suicide after being unable to pay her Bachelor of Arts examination fees. Meanwhile, in Palghar, Maharashtra, a pregnant tribal woman died after traveling 100 kilometers in search of an ICU facility.

In Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, three Dalit families were forced to migrate due to repeated caste-based attacks, with local authorities allegedly remaining silent. “It is well known that atrocities are being committed against Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and minority communities under the anti-constitutional rule of the Modi government. Those who are poor and deprived are bearing the brunt of Manuvaad,” Kharge charged.

He further emphasized the alarming increase in crimes against marginalized groups. Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), he claimed that crimes against Dalit and tribal women and children have doubled since 2014, with an incident occurring every hour.

Kharge vowed that the Congress party would continue to defend the constitutional rights of India’s 140 crore citizens and oppose the “anti-constitutional thinking” of the BJP-RSS. “The Congress Party will not allow the constitutional rights of Indians to be violated,” he asserted.

Separately, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale alleged that another Dalit man, Somnath Suryavanshi, was assaulted in a police lock-up in Parbhani, Maharashtra, leading to his death. Athawale called for strict action against the perpetrators and accountability for such incidents.

These incidents have reignited concerns over rising caste-based violence and systemic oppression in BJP-ruled states. Kharge’s remarks underline the Congress party’s commitment to standing against such injustices and advocating for the rights and dignity of marginalized communities across the country.


 

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