NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Congress, calling it "Dalit virodhi (against Dalits)" after Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over what he described as "systemic exclusion of Bahujan entrepreneurs" from major public sector contracts.
The political exchange follows remarks earlier made by Gandhi in Parliament, where he questioned the government over the distribution of public works contracts worth Rs 16, 500 crore awarded last year. He specifically sought details on how much of these contracts were allocated to businesses owned by Dalits, Adivasis, and Other Backward Classes.
Responding to his remarks, BJP leaders accused the Congress of having a long history of marginalising Dalit communities, rejecting Gandhi's criticism of the current government's policies.
BJP National Spokesperson C.R. Kesavan, speaking to IANS, alleged that the Congress has consistently demonstrated a "Dalit-virodhi mindset" over the years.