According to the Centre’s own data, 65% of crimes against SC-ST communities came from the states ruled by them: Harpal Singh Cheema

Chandigarh: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has claimed that the anti-Dalit mentality of the BJP has been completely exposed during the recent visit of BJP national president Nitin Nabin to Punjab. Citing a recent BJP event, he revealed that senior SC leaders like former Union Minister Vijay Sampla and Som Prakash were kept standing in the audience, while other leaders were sitting on the stage, which directly reflects gross discrimination.

Harpal Singh Cheema said that BJP respects only a certain rich class while Dalits, laborers and the poor are systematically marginalized and humiliated. He emphasized that the Scheduled Caste community, which constitutes about 34% of Punjab’s population, has closely observed this approach. He said that BJP is anti-Punjab, anti-farmer and its anti-Dalit face is now visible to everyone, and the people of Punjab will give a strong response to such politics.

Harpal Singh Cheema made a big claim   

Addressing a press conference along with AAP Punjab SC wing chairman Gurpreet Singh GP, Harpal Singh Cheema said that according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data of 2024, about 65% of the crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the country have come from the four BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. This reflects the BJP government’s failure to protect Dalits and the party’s deep prejudice against backward communities.

Highlighting the discrimination faced by senior Dalit leaders of the BJP, he revealed that during a recent event of the party in Punjab, senior SC leaders like former Union Minister Vijay Sampla and former Union Minister Som Prakash were forced to stand in the audience while the higher leadership was seated on the stage. This incident has exposed the real face of BJP in front of the people of Punjab. Leaders who served the party for decades and represented the Scheduled Caste community were not given even basic respect.

The senior AAP leader further said that this incident is a clear evidence of the discriminatory mentality of the BJP towards Dalits, laborers and economically weaker sections. BJP respects only a special and rich class. Those representing workers, Dalits and the poor are marginalized and humiliated.

He further said that the Scheduled Caste community of Punjab, which constitutes about 34% of the state’s population, has felt this discriminatory attitude firsthand. The people of Punjab will never forgive BJP for insulting Dalit leaders and those backward communities who have contributed a lot to the progress of the country.

Concluding his speech, Harpal Singh Cheema said that BJP is not only anti-Punjab and anti-farmer, but its anti-Dalit face has also been completely exposed. The people of Punjab will give a befitting reply to such divisive and discriminatory politics.