Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh.
Digital Desk, Bhopal. Congress MLA from Bhander Phool Singh Baraiya, who is often in the news for his statements, has once again come into controversy. During a conference organized in Bhopal, he compared the MPs and MLAs of Scheduled Castes and Tribes to animals and said that they have no rights. His statement came at a time when many senior Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh were present on the stage, but no one felt the need to interrupt him.
Baraiya did not stop here. He also raised questions on the distribution of idols of Hanuman ji in tribal areas and said that efforts should be made that tribals should not become Hindus, because they have a different identity. His statement gave rise to a sharp reaction in political circles.
However, the state Congress distanced itself from Baraiya's statement and said that these could be his personal views. The party has nothing to do with it. Whereas BJP called it Congress's consent and mental bankruptcy.
Argument given quoting Ambedkar
While speaking on the election system in the 'Bhopal Declaration-2' conference, the document being prepared for Dalit-tribals in the capital, Baraiya mentioned Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. According to Baraiya, Dr. Ambedkar had said that in the joint election system, the situation of our representatives (SC-ST) would be like having a bandage tied on the mouth, using the word indecent. He won't even be able to bark let alone bite.
Baraiya argued that the situation could improve only if there was a separate electoral system. A committee should be formed from the area designated for us, which would select the candidate and elect the representative by voting for that section. Only then will they be able to express our views. Right now we are under pressure. Today in the country caste and religion are on top and the Constitution is behind.
He also said that today caste and religion are more dominant in the country than the Constitution. Political equality has been achieved to some extent, but social and economic equality is still far away.
Congress shrugged it off
As the controversy escalated, the state Congress organization distanced itself from the MLA's statement. Organization General Secretary Sanjay Kamle termed it unfortunate and said that these could be the personal views of the MLA, the party has nothing to do with it. He also said that such statements should not be made in public forums.
Whereas BJP launched a scathing attack on Congress. State Minister Rajneesh Aggarwal said that Phool Singh Baraiya has been continuously giving objectionable statements, but the silence of the Congress leadership shows its tacit consent. Terming it as "mental bankruptcy" of Congress, he said that such language is neither socially nor legally acceptable.