Dalit remark sparks row between BJP and Congress

Ahead of state wide civic body elections, political parties in the state, it seems, are busy putting each other in a tight spot. After alleging misuse of the CBI by the UPA government in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, the BJP is now playing the Dalit card.

As many as 18 complaints have been lodged against various Congress leaders in different towns and cities of the state, in which they are accused of hurting the sentiments of Dalits.

It should be noted that earlier the Congress had claimed that Modi had termed Dalits as 'mentally retarded children' during a book launch function. Following this, a complaint of defamation was filed against 12 Congress leaders. A local court in the city has also begun an inquiry under sections 202 of the Criminal procedure code (Cr.PC), following the development. "The court has accepted our application and has started inquiry under section 202 by taking the statement of complainant Kishor Makwana," said Prakash Patel, counsel for Makwana.

The latter is the author of the book 'Samajik Samarasata' written on chief minister Narendra Modi's speeches on Dalits. "The case will come up for hearing next month," Patel said.  Makwana, in his complaint, has mentioned 12 Congress leaders including Pravin Rashtrapal, former Rajyasabha MP, two sitting MLAs - Chandu Dabhi and Shailesh Parmar, and two former ministers Dolat Parmar and Karsan Soneri, among others. Modi had released the book authored by Kishor Makwana on April 26 at Town Hall. 

The Congress had later issued statements to the media, alleging that during the function, Modi had termed the Dalit as 'a mentally retarded child'. The complaint filed by Makwana states that Modi never made any such statement and the accusations levelled by the Congress has hurt the sentiments of Dalits.

Makwana had earlier served a legal notice to the Congress leaders to tender an apology. But when they failed to respond, he filed a complaint in the metropolitan court of the city.   Meanwhile, Congress president Siddharth Patel said, "There is nothing to comment. We will respond to the complaint."