Terming it a “casteist remark”, the BJP on Wednesday urged the Election Commission (ECI) to take action against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for suggesting that President Ram Nath Kovind was chosen for the post because he was a Dalit.
Reacting to the statement made by Mr. Gehlot in Jaipur earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narsimha Rao said at a press conference here that Mr. Gehlot, a senior Congress leader who occupied a Constitutional post as well, should apologise for the remark. He added that the statement appeared to show the Congress' “anti-Dalit” mindset.
“We appeal to the Election Commission to issue a notice to Ashok Gehlot and to give a directive that no political party should make a remark critical of the President ,” Mr. Rao said.
The BJP also hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who while attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged corruption at a rally on Monday,asked why all “thieves” had the surname Modi, in a reference to Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi.
“In Maharashtra's Nanded, Rahul Gandhi called everyone of the Modi community thieves. Why is the Congress so worried about a Prime Minister who comes from a poor and backward section of soiety? Does the Congress think they can malign all Dalit, backward and poor political leaders and have only one family that is capable of ruling,” Mr. Rao asked.
