New Delhi: The Congress is set to hold a special “Dalit-Adivasi Swabhiman Baithak” on September 29 at Mavalankar Hall in the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The high-level meeting will focus on issues affecting Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities across the country, including alleged discrimination, atrocities and the controversy surrounding a purported “purification” ritual following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s public meeting in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
One of the major issues on the agenda will be the alleged purification ritual reportedly conducted after Kharge’s public meeting at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani. Congress leaders have alleged that the religious ritual, held shortly after the event, amounted to an insult to the Dalit community.
BJP leaders, however, have denied any connection between the ritual and Kharge’s visit. Union Minister Ajay Tamta has rejected the Congress’s allegations, describing the event as a routine cleaning and religious ceremony. The controversy is expected to be discussed in detail at the September 29 meeting.
Congress MP Mallu Ravi and other party leaders have alleged that incidents of violence, discrimination and atrocities against Dalits and tribal communities are increasing in different parts of the country.
The meeting is expected to discuss a political and social roadmap for addressing such incidents. Congress leaders have also accused the central government of pursuing policies that they describe as “anti-Dalit” and “anti-tribal.” The party has urged its SC and ST MPs, MLAs and MLCs from across the country to participate in the meeting.
Participants will also discuss alleged violations of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, as well as incidents of violence and discrimination.
According to Congress leaders, the party intends to formulate a broader strategy to challenge social prejudice and discrimination both inside Parliament and through public campaigns.
The legal developments surrounding the Haldwani controversy are also expected to be examined. Uttarakhand Police reportedly registered an FIR against unidentified persons under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST Act.
The nationwide meeting is being organized by the Congress SC/ST Parliamentarians’ Forum, with support from the relevant departments of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
Congress MPs from both Houses of Parliament, former MPs, representatives from Congress-ruled states and several senior Dalit and tribal leaders are expected to attend. Among those expected to participate are K. Raju, Rajendra Pal Gautam and Tribal Congress national president and MLA Dr. Vikrant Bhuria.
The Congress says the meeting will focus on protecting constitutionally guaranteed principles of equality, dignity and freedom, while strengthening political and social efforts to safeguard the rights of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.
