New Delhi, March 21 – The BJP on Saturday criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of engaging in "appeasement politics" over the Uttam Nagar incident, in which a Dalit youth was killed during Holi celebrations.
Speaking at a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan accused Gandhi of political opportunism, claiming that whenever faced with a choice between social justice and minority appeasement, he consistently chooses the latter.
He also criticized Gandhi for not visiting Uttam Nagar after the Dalit man was murdered.
"The Uttam Nagar incident proves one thing: whenever there is a choice between social justice, constitutional values, and minority appeasement, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have always chosen appeasement," Paswan said at the BJP headquarters here.
"The incident once again proves that when given a choice, Congress resorts to political opportunism and appeasement," he said.
These remarks came after Gandhi, in a post on X, accused the BJP of stoking hatred and violence over the Uttam Nagar case.
"The people of Uttam Nagar have paid a heavy price for violence -- on one hand, a young man, Tarun, has lost his life; on the other, an entire family is facing harassment. They do not want any more bloodshed," Gandhi said.
"It is only the BJP and its ecosystem that seek violence – exploiting every opportunity to stoke hatred and bake the bread of violence on the fire of division," he added.
Gandhi alleged that the BJP wants to keep the country entangled in Hindu-Muslim divisions so that people do not question the prime minister on issues such as national security, energy and food security and strategic sovereignty.
"I urge the people of Delhi not to fall for any provocation – the strength of our nation lies in unity, brotherhood, and love. Unite India," he said.
Hitting back, Paswan Gandhi claimed that Gandhi posted on the issue days after the incident to politicize the matter.
"A tweet was posted expressing condolences – that too after several days – merely pretending sensitivity.
"Have you become insensitive today? When a young man from the Dalit community is murdered, you remain silent. But you had visited Mohammad Akhlaq's family," he said.
Paswan alleged that appeasement has been "institutionalized" within the Congress party.
"Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi go wherever they see political opportunity. Behind this lies a pattern, an institutional mindset within the Congress party, a choice between appeasement and social justice. History shows that whenever Congress has had to choose between the two, it has always preferred appeasement," he claimed.
Accusing Congress of having an "anti-Dalit DNA", Paswan said Dalits today seek real participation in governance rather than symbolic gestures.
"Your party's DNA is anti-Dalit. Whenever given a choice, you choose appeasement. We have not forgotten.
"But I want to make it clear – today's Dalit is aware. Today's Dalit seeks participation in governance and administration, not symbolic gestures like yours. Dalits feel suffocated with you," he said.
Referring to the Ranganath Mishra Committee and the Sachar Committee, he claimed that people belonging to the scheduled castes do not get reservations in admissions and recruitment in institutions such as Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.
Paswan also criticised Congress over its stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), claiming that the law benefits persecuted minorities, including Dalits, from neighbouring countries.
Paswan also raised the issue of Congress supporting the Bharat Ratna for BSP founder Kanshi Ram, saying the party had denied the highest civilian award to BR Ambedkar and it was conferred only during a non-Congress government.
"Gandhi recently spoke about honouring Kanshi Ram ji. But look at your own history -- you insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar. For four decades after his death, you did not allow him to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.
"It was only when a non-Congress government, supported by the BJP, came to power that Babasaheb Ambedkar was conferred the Bharat Ratna," he said.
Paswan also cited the example of Babu Jagjivan Ram, claiming that Congress had historically sidelined Dalit leadership.
Highlighting the BJP's record, he said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, greater representation has been given to Dalits and tribals in governance.
He pointed to the election of a tribal woman as President and the appointment of tribal chief ministers in states such as Odisha and Chhattisgarh, as well as Dalit deputy chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Tarun, a member of the Scheduled Caste community, died after sustaining severe injuries during a clash in JJ Colony of Uttam Nagar on March 4.
The violence allegedly began with a dispute between two families from different communities during Holi celebrations and escalated into a confrontation involving several people.