New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI): Union Minister Anupriya Patel on Tuesday criticized the previous Congress governments for neglecting the upliftment of people from the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). She asserted that it was the Narendra Modi-led government that had taken decisive steps toward ensuring social justice for these communities.
While participating in a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, Patel, a Member of Parliament from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, pointed out that under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, which includes the Modi government, significant milestones had been reached, such as the election of the President, Prime Minister, and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) from backward communities. She highlighted this as a notable shift, contrasting it with the Congress-led governments that had failed to provide adequate opportunities to these communities.
Responding to the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s comments regarding the absence of SC, ST, or OBC officials at the pre-Budget 'Halwa' ceremony, Patel emphasized that historically, people from these communities had struggled to meet their basic needs under Congress rule. She said, "It was the Modi government that freed these communities from the shackles of ‘Roti, Kapda, Makan’ and gave them opportunities for prosperity, along with enhanced employment opportunities."
Patel, who also serves as the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, challenged Congress members to enumerate their contributions to the welfare of SC, ST, and OBC communities during their tenure.
In a parallel discussion, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran expressed concerns about the direction of the President’s address, calling it devoid of substance and accusing the government of making “untenable claims” about its achievements over the past decade. Premachandran, representing Kerala’s Kollam constituency, also criticized the government's push for the 'One Nation, One Election' policy, stating that it undermined the principles of federalism and the Constitution. Additionally, he raised concerns about social harmony, urging the government to work towards unity in diversity.
In another intervention, Vijay Kumar Hansdak, a Member of Parliament from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), accused the central government of concealing the true scale of the stampede that occurred during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on January 29. While the Uttar Pradesh government reported 30 deaths and 60 injuries, opposition parties have claimed that the toll was much higher. Hanuman Beniwal, representing the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), also demanded the government reveal the actual figures and initiate an inquiry to determine accountability.
The debate highlighted stark differences in perspectives on the government's policies, with a particular focus on the treatment of marginalized communities and the handling of the recent tragedy at the Maha Kumbh.
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