Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed profound horror on Monday over the brutal murder of Anjel Chakma in Dehradun, terming it a 'hate crime' and directly blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party's leadership for fostering a climate of prejudice. He accused the ruling party of normalising bigotry through years of toxic content and irresponsible narratives.
Congress Leaders Detail Systemic Bias
Joining the condemnation, Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi provided chilling details of the incident and broader discrimination. He stated that Chakma was killed after being racially slurred as a 'Chinese'. Gogoi further highlighted that the indigenous Karbi tribe in Assam's Karbi Anglong region faces similar abuse with 'Chinese go back' slogans in their own homeland.
Gogoi launched a sharp attack on the BJP government, accusing it of a fundamental failure to celebrate India's diversity. He pointed to serious lapses in the investigation, noting a 12-day delay in filing the FIR after Chakma's murder and that the main accused remains absconding. The Assam Congress chief demanded an immediate inquiry into the police's lax response and the swift arrest of the perpetrators.
A Pattern of Neglect and Prejudice
Gogoi framed the Dehradun murder not as an isolated event but as part of a pervasive pattern of prejudice faced by people from the North-East across various Indian states. He alleged that the Prime Minister and his administration are focused on reshaping the national mindset from one that celebrates pluralism to one obsessed with a singular identity.
'Neither could they understand it in Manipur, nor in Karbi Anglong,' Gogoi stated, emphasizing the government's inability to grasp the anger and doubts of the North-East populace. He criticized the PM's approach as transactional, claiming people from the region are used as 'props' for photo-ops during visits and then disregarded.
Sharing a personal anecdote, Gogoi revealed he was once asked in Agra to show his passport and declare his origins. 'Only the people of the North-East understand this pain,' he said, praising the community's resilience and patriotism in proudly carrying the national flag despite such daily humiliations.
Call for Reflection and Unity
Rahul Gandhi issued a poignant call for national introspection. He asserted that India's foundation is built on respect and unity, not fear and abuse. Defining the nation as one of love and diversity, he warned against the danger of becoming a 'dead society' that remains silent when fellow citizens are targeted.
'We must reflect and confront what we are allowing our country to become,' Gandhi urged, positioning the Congress's outcry as a stand for the country's core constitutional values against what they see as state-tolerated majoritarianism.
