Dalit leader Ramesh Jigajinagi slams BJP, Modi over caste discrimination
New Delhi: Ramesh Jigajinagi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian and prominent Dalit leader, has spoken out against the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging discrimination against lower castes and minorities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Jigajinagi, who was overlooked for a ministerial position, pointed out that most central ministers belong to upper castes. “I was warned about the BJP’s and Modi’s bias against lower castes, but I didn’t take it seriously.” He further asserted that the BJP is an anti-Dalit party that has marginalized Dalits.
This criticism echoes concerns raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who accused the Modi government of seeking a society dominated by upper castes, excluding Dalits and backward classes.
The US State Department has also expressed concerns about human rights violations and minority marginalization in India this year.
These developments highlight growing internal tensions within the BJP and increased scrutiny of the Modi government’s policies towards lower castes and minorities.
