CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday demanded that the Congress’ central leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, should clear its stand over the alleged anti-Dalit remarks by former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar.
AAP MLAs Manwinder Singh Giaspura and Rupinder Singh Happy said in case the Congress high command did not take strict action against Jakhar, then Punjab government will take action against him under the SC/ST Act as was being “demanded by the Dalit community”.
Addressing a press conference, Giaspura said, “Jakhar has insulted the Dalit community, but instead of taking action, Sonia Gandhi and the Congress high command are silent. Charanjit Singh Channi was made the chief minister but the mindset of the Congress’s national and state leadership is full of hatred towards the Dalit and poor society.”
Happy, AAP MLA from Bassi Pathana, alleged that Jakhar’s statement was “against Punjab’s brotherhood”. He said despite the complaints of Charanjit Singh Channi and Raj Kumar Verka, the Congress top brass had not taken any action against Jakhar nor has he apologised to the Dalit community.
He claimed that Jakhar’s statement had hurt the self-esteem of Dalit community in Punjab and elsewhere.
