Bengaluru: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge strongly criticized the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing them of promoting a “feudal mindset” and ignoring the rising incidents of caste-based violence in India.
Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2013 to 2023, Kharge highlighted that crimes against Dalits increased by 46%, while those targeting Adivasis rose by 91% over the same period.
In a post on X, he alleged that the BJP has fostered and condoned a feudal and casteist mindset that results in discriminatory and violent acts against marginalized communities.
Kharge pointed to recent incidents of caste-related violence, including the lynching of Dalit man Hariom Valmiki in Rae Bareli, the attack on Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, and the suicide of a Dalit IPS officer in Haryana.
“These incidents are not isolated. They reflect a deeply entrenched RSS–BJP mindset that threatens the Constitution, social justice, and equality,” he wrote.
He further accused the ruling party of using intimidation politics to suppress Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities, and other marginalized groups, describing this as a significant challenge to India’s democratic framework.
“India’s governance must be guided by the Constitution, not extremist ideologies,” Kharge asserted.
Without naming him directly, he also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remarking that while vulnerable communities endure daily injustices, the leadership appears indifferent, remaining absorbed in other matters.
Earlier on Thursday, Kharge described the suicide of Haryana’s senior Dalit IPS officer, ADGP Y Puran Kumar, as a “shocking and horrifying reflection of social injustice, inhumanity, and insensitivity” under the BJP’s so-called “Manuwadi” system.
“The BJP’s ‘Manuwadi’ approach has become a curse for SC, ST, OBC, and weaker sections. The tragedy of ADGP Y Puran Kumar’s death is a stark reminder of the systemic injustices faced by marginalized communities. My heartfelt condolences go to his family,” Kharge posted on X.