BJP counters Rahul Gandhi's caste claims with eyewitness videos

The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a sharp counterattack on Saturday, using testimony from Scheduled Caste eyewitnesses to challenge Rahul Gandhi's narrative about an alleged caste incident in Uttarakhand's Haldwani. The political clash erupted after the Leader of Opposition accused the BJP and RSS of organizing a "purification" ceremony at a Congress rally venue.

Eyewitness accounts challenge narrative

At a tense press conference in the capital, BJP leaders Guru Prakash Paswan and Sudhanshu Trivedi played videos of two individuals who identified themselves as members of an organization that cleaned the stage and organized a havan at the Ramlila site. Both eyewitnesses, belonging to Scheduled Castes, firmly denied any caste discrimination occurred.

Trivedi pointed to the 20-day delay in raising the matter as evidence that there was no genuine issue. "This suggests there was no legal basis," he noted, his voice measured but firm. "The Congress is using this as a political opportunity to create social divisions."

Historical accusations fly

The BJP's response quickly escalated into broader historical allegations. Paswan's voice grew more animated as he described the Congress as "anti-Dalit" and "neo-feudal," accusing the party of ill-treating its own Dalit leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, V. Narayanasamy, and Kumari Selja.

"History is witness to how Babasaheb Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram were treated," Paswan stated, his words carrying the weight of historical grievance. "Babu Jagjivan Ram had to leave the Congress, and for the first time the country saw a person from the Dalit community become Deputy Prime Minister, in a government formed by the Bharatiya Jana Sangh."

Broader pattern of division alleged

Trivedi framed the incident as part of a larger pattern, accusing Gandhi and the Congress of repeatedly raising identity issues—whether gender, region, language, or caste—with what he called the underlying agenda of making "Hindus fight among themselves."

The BJP leaders also pointed to recent cases of violence against Dalits in Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Karnataka, suggesting the party failed to protect vulnerable communities when actually in power.

"The history of the Congress is one of neo-feudalism, extreme casteism, and being anti-Dalit" - Guru Prakash Paswan

As the press conference concluded, the atmosphere felt charged with unresolved tensions. The BJP's counter-narrative, backed by eyewitness testimony, sets the stage for what promises to be another heated chapter in India's ongoing political battles over caste and representation.