Congress always insulted Dalits, tribals, OBCs; BJP helped them: Nadda

CHITRADURGA: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Thursday accused the opposition Congress of neglecting and insulting Dalits, tribals and OBCs while also alleging that the party is known for “corruption, casteism, and commission”.

Nadda also alleged that the Congress party does politics by “deceiving and betraying people”. “The Congress has always neglected Dalits, tribals and OBCs. Not just this, it has also insulted them. In the 70 years, what has Congress done for the tribals? It was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who set up the Tribal Ministry for the first time”, Nadda said while addressing a convention of SC, ST and OBC party workers.

“The Congress does politics by deceiving and betraying people. The party is known for corruption, casteism and commission. They also have infighting among themselves here”, he added.

Citing the example of the Bharat Ratna award conferred on Dr B R Ambedkar, the BJP chief attacked Congress and said that the party fielded a candidate to defeat him. “When Dr B R Ambedkar was alive, Congress fielded a candidate against him to stall his entry into Parliament and defeated him. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna 40 years after his demise when the BJP raised its voice”, Nadda said, adding that the BJP government has helped the tribals who had “lagged behind” move forward and “stand on an equal platform”.

Nadda addressed a convention of SCs, STs and OBC party workers In Chitradurga on Thursday.

Nadda lauded the inclusion of Dalit and tribal ministers in the Modi cabinet and said that the BJP has worked towards “social justice”. “The BJP and the Modi government have truly worked towards social justice. Its mantra is ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas’. For the first time, PM Modi’s cabinet has 12 Dalit ministers, 27 OBC ministers and eight tribal ministers”, he said.

“The second Dalit President, Ram Nath Kovind, assumed office when Modi was the PM . The first tribal woman to become President, Droupadi Murmu, assumed office when Modi is the PM,” Nadda added.

The BJP chief also hailed the Basavaraj Bommai-led Karnataka government for its decision to increase the reservation of the SC and ST communities. “The biggest work that the Karnataka government has done is increasing the SC reservation from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and ST reservation from 3 per cent to 7 per cent”, Nadda said.

Karnataka is slated to go to Assembly polls in a few months. The BJP is looking to retain power in the state whereas Congress is making efforts to return to power. (ANI)