Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
A day after Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Bharathi sought a report from Rajkot District Collector Prabhav Joshi over controversial remarks by Union Minister Parshottam Rupala on the Kshatriyas, leaders of the community on Thursday refused to accept his apology or settle for a compromise. The members of the community continue to demand the withdrawal of his candidature from Rajkot for the Lok Sabha elections amid protests over the comments.
On Monday, BJP leaders said that efforts were on to persuade protesting Kshatriya community leaders to strike a conciliatory note and resolve the matter. “BJP leaders hailing from the Kshatriya community are holding meetings with the protesting community members and we are confident some compromise will be reached within a couple of days,” said a senior BJP functionary on the condition of anonymity.
However, the protesting leaders of the community dismissed the suggestions. PT Jadeja, international president of Rajput Yuva Sangh, told reporters in Rajkot on Thursday that the BJP should withdraw Rupala as its candidate for Rajkot as a precondition to any talks for a compromise.
“It is being said that some compromise will be struck in this matter. But we are very clear that we won’t compromise on this issue. Not only that, we won’t attend any meetings for a compromise. We would attend such meetings on the condition that they change the candidate as there is anger among the Kshatriya community. The entire Kshatriya community and its 90 odd organisations have come together not for a compromise as remarks of Parshottambhai (Rupala) are not forgivable. If any leaders want to resolve the matter, they should persuade Parshottambhai to withdraw from the race here and give the ticket to someone else. Why should they persuade us,” Jadeja said, adding that Kshatriyas were not opponents of the BJP.
In a widely shared video of Rupala’s speech at an event held on March 22 by the Dalit community, the Minister — while praising Dalits for not bowing down to the British — is heard saying that while the British spared no efforts to persecute the Indians, “Even the kings bowed down. They broke bread with them and married their daughters to them,” he said. The members of the Kshatriya community — to which most rulers of India belonged in colonial era — have taken offence to this remark even as Rupala apologised the next day.
“My intention was to elaborate on the atrocities committed by vidharmis (those practising other faiths) against our culture and our country. It was not my intention in the least to show royal families or Kshatriya community in poor light, nor is it now or it will be in future. Nonetheless, if anyone’s feelings have been hurt due my speech or its video, I say sorry and apologise sincerely. I am doing this (tendering apology) not due to election but because I respect pride and glory of the Kshatriya community,” Rupala said.
Despite the apology, demonstrations were held against him in Rajkot and Surendranagar on Tuesday.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
