PRI polls in sight,Cong dubs BJP ‘anti-Dalit’

Even as s the BJP managed an early rapprochement between its leaders in Kullu district over a controversy about caste-based remarks,the opposition Congress has caught on to the issue and decided to campaign against BJP as an “anti-Dalit” party in the upcoming Panchayati Raj Institution and Urban Local Body elections.

Himachal Pradesh Congress Party President Kaul Singh Thakur today said,“After the patch-up between complainant Ram Singh,President of BJP’s Kullu District unit,and the accused,state BJP President Khimi Ram and local leader Dharamveer Dhami,following intervention of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,the BJP is trying to brush the issue under the carpet. The FIRs registered in cases under SC/ST Act for caste-based harassment cannot be closed down even if the parties reach a compromise. We demand that the case be handled as per law,and should be taken to its legal conclusion”. Kaul Singh accused the BJP of political bias and discretion in implementation of laws in cases involving its own party workers.

Caste case settled: BJP

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The state BJP on Tuesday said the issue regarding use of caste-based remarks among its leaders has now been sorted out.

The party’s state spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said the Opposition parties were trying to stoke the issue to get political mileage.

“The issue was an outcome of misunderstanding between two leaders and it has been solved at the party level,” he said.