Amit Shah's barb at Rahul Gandhi over SC/ST Act

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Thursday took a jibe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his participation in a protest against the government over Scheduled Caste/Schedule Tribe Atrocities Bill. This comes after the Lok Sabha passed the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018 on August 6, overturning the Supreme Court ruling in March.

Shah took to social media, and in a series of tweets, launched a scathing attack on the Congress President. He recalled Rahul's much talked about "hug and wink" in the parliament, and said, "Rahul Ji, when you are free from winking and disrupting Parliament, give some time to facts as well. NDA Government, through a Cabinet decision and in Parliament ensured the strongest amendment to the Act. Why are you protesting that?"

He further slammed the Congress Party for their treatment towards Dalits, and termed it "patronising and condescending." He said, "Would have been good if Congress President would have spoken about his Party's treatment towards Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Jagjivan Ram, and Sitaram Kesari. Congress' way of treating Dalits is patronising and condescending. For years Congress insulted Dalit aspirations."

Calling out United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for her aversion to reservation for Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe before Rahul Gandhi became the President of the Congress party, Shah accused the Congress of resisting a tough Act. He said, "Is it a coincidence that the year Mrs. Sonia Gandhi joined the Congress, the Third Front-Congress Government opposed reservations in promotions and the year Rahul Gandhi becomes Congress President they oppose a tough SC/ SCT Act and OBC Commission! Anti-backward mindset visible."

Recalling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Shah accused him of opposing the Mandal Commission's report which recommended reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Shah tweeted, "Mr. Rahul Gandhi, expecting research and honesty is difficult from you but do read Mr. Rajiv Gandhi's speech during Mandal when he opposed it tooth & nail. The sense of entitlement and hatred for backward communities comes out so clearly. And today you talk about Dalit welfare!"

He further blamed the Congress of insulting Dalit leaders, and opposing the recommendations of Mandal Commission, and heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring strongest amendments to the SC/ST Act. He tweeted, "PM Narendra Modi's legacy- strongest amendments to SC/ ST Act, OBC Commission, Panchteerth and more. Congress legacy- insult Dalit leaders, Dalit pride, oppose Mandal and block OBC Commission."

Even after the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018 was passed in Lok Sabha on Monday the Congress alleged that the government has now passed the bill thinking about next year's Lok Sabha elections.

The apex court, in its March 20 ruling, barred immediate arrests in cases registered under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Later, the Centre filed a review petition against the ruling, which went in vain as the top court refused to stay its order and asked all parties to submit detailed replies.