New Delhi, February 28: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, strongly criticized the central government on Friday over key vacancies in the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC). Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promptly fill these positions, emphasizing that leaving them vacant undermines the commission's ability to safeguard the rights and interests of Dalit communities.
Highlighting this issue in a strongly worded social media post in Hindi on platform X, Gandhi accused the BJP-led government of harboring an "anti-Dalit mindset," which he believes is clearly demonstrated by the prolonged neglect of these crucial posts. He pointed out that the positions of Vice Chairman and a commission member have remained unfilled for more than a year.
"This Commission is a constitutional institution, and weakening it directly assaults the constitutional and social rights of Dalits," Gandhi asserted. "If the commission isn't empowered, who will hear the voices of Dalits in the government, and who will act upon their grievances?"
Gandhi further addressed Prime Minister Modi directly, insisting, "Mr. Prime Minister, fill all vacancies in the commission immediately, so it can effectively fulfill its responsibility of protecting Dalits' rights and interests."
The NCSC, currently headed by Kishor Makwana, serves as a constitutional authority dedicated to protecting Scheduled Castes against exploitation and promoting their social, educational, economic, and cultural welfare. The persistent vacancies, including the crucial role of Vice Chairman, raise concerns over the body's ability to execute its constitutionally mandated functions effectively.