New Delhi/Lucknow: The incident of police aspirants in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh having caste categories written on their chests sparked condemnation on Monday from the chiefs of the Congress and the BSP who alleged this reflected the “casteist attitude” of the saffron party.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP also asked the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to probe the incident, calling it “shameful”. While Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP government of “knifing” the nation’s heart with its “casteist attitude”, BSP chief Mayawati alleged the “criminal act” was the fresh example of BJP governments’ “new found love” for Dalits for their political gains. 

An inquiry has been ordered after photographs in various newspapers showed aspirants with “SC” (Scheduled Caste), “ST” (Scheduled Tribe) and “G” (General) marked with sketch pens on their chests as they queued up for their medical examination in Dhar district on Sunday, triggering a controversy.