The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a sharp critique against the BJP-led Delhi government on Friday, accusing it of disrespecting the Dalit community. The controversy erupted on the birth anniversary of pioneering social reformer Savitribai Phule, when the government chose to install portraits of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya in the Delhi Assembly, rather than honouring Phule herself.
A Deliberate Snub on a Significant Day
During a press conference, AAP leaders expressed strong disapproval of the timing and decision. AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj highlighted the irony of the situation, stating it was "very strange" that on the day dedicated to Savitribai Phule, portraits of two other leaders were being installed. He argued that installing the portrait of a Dalit icon like Phule would have been a powerful statement against casteism, but the government missed this crucial opportunity.
"If even a Dalit icon's portrait had been installed today, we could have struck a blow against the stigma of casteism that has existed for thousands of years," Bharadwaj said. "But the Delhi government missed this opportunity and instead installed portraits of two Brahmins."
Privilege Motion Used to 'Suppress Voice'
The AAP's criticism extended beyond the portrait issue to the government's reaction to their demands. The party revealed that when its MLAs formally proposed installing Savitribai Phule's portrait in the Assembly, the government responded by initiating a privilege breach case against them.
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar, who was among those targeted, spoke with sadness about the suppression. "To suppress our voice, they initiated a privilege breach motion against our members, including against me personally, but they did not install Mata Savitribai Phule's portrait there," Kumar stated. He directly linked the refusal to Phule's identity and work, asserting, "Because she spoke about educating women. Because she came from the Dalit community and the backward community, her portrait was not installed."
Contrast in Decisions Highlights 'Anti-Dalit Mentality'
The leaders pointed to a stark contrast in the government's actions. They noted that while significant funds were allocated to install the portraits of Vajpayee and Malaviya, there was immense resistance to honouring Savitribai Phule, who founded the first school for women in India.
Kuldeep Kumar clarified that the AAP had no objection to honouring Vajpayee or Malaviya. However, he condemned the simultaneous disregard for a Dalit icon. "We say this clearly that if you insult Dalit heroes and show hatred towards them, then we will not tolerate a BJP that insults Mata Savitribai Phule," he declared, calling this pattern a clear reflection of the BJP's anti-dalit mindset.
The press release from the AAP framed the entire episode as a symbolic act that reveals the ruling party's priorities and its alleged insensitivity towards Dalit icons and their contributions to Indian society, particularly in the field of women's education.
