Chandigarh, April 8 : Targeting Congress national president Sonia Gandhi, former president Rahul Gandhi and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi over their silence on anti-Dalit remarks of former PPCC President S l Jakhar, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday said the Congress high command should clarify their stand on the matter. Addressing a press conference here, AAP senior leaders and MLAs Manwinder Singh Giaspura and Rupinder Singh Happy said, “Senior Congress leader S l Jakhar has insulted the Dalit comm ty, but instead of taking action, Sonia Gandhi and the Congress High Command is staying silent and encouraging S l Jakhar and his anti-Dalit mentality. “The silence of Congress High Command and unrepentant S l Jakhar proves that in the eyes of Congress, the Dalit comm ty has no dignity,” he added. As per Giaspura, Charanjit Singh Channi was made the Chief Minister, but the mindset of Congress’ national and state leadership was full of hatred towards the Dalits and the poor. Jakhar has substantiated the same with his words now, he added. He further said that Congress was responsible for the 1984 Sikh massacre and a Sikh leader Manmohan Singh apologised for it, but Congress never took responsibility for it. They were treating this issue in a similar manner, so that it will eventually abate. MLA Happy said, “S l Jakhar’s statement is against Punjab’s brotherhood and humanity. Congress has been taking advantage of Dalit vote bank for a long time, but Congress has no regard for their dignity.” He said despite the complaints of Channi and Raj Kumar Verka, the Congress High Command has neither taken any action against Jakhar, nor has the former PPCC President apologised to the Dalit comm ty. The statement of Jakhar had hurt the self-esteem of Dalits not only in Punjab, but in the entire country. People of Punjab will never accept such inferior mentality, he added. Both AAP MLAs said that Jakhar, along with Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka, should apologise to the people of Punjab. If the Congress leaders do not apologise, the Punjab government led by AAP, will take action against Jakhar under the SC/ST Act, they warned. DB RJ
