'He Is Not Even Able To Sit': Kharge, Gehlot Meet Dalit Engineer 'Assaulted' By Congress MLA In 2022

Congress chief Kharge and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Saturday met the Dalit engineer who was allegedly attacked by the party MLA Giriraj Singh Malinga.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Saturday met the Dalit engineer who was allegedly assaulted by party MLA Giriraj Singh Malinga and his supporters last year in March following which he suffered many injuries. He has been admitted to hospital since then as many of his bones got broken. Kharge said it was a heinous crime and so the party decided not to field him during upcoming assembly polls in the state scheduled for Nov 25.

Harshadipati Valmiki was allegedly beaten and a chair was thrown at him in March 2022 in the presence of Malinga. The three-time MLA was arrested but later given bail in the case. Sharing his experience after meeting Valmiki, Kharge said, "Harshadipati Valmiki is not even able to sit as all his bones are broken. Rahul Gandhi and I decided to not give ticket to the person (Giriraj Singh Malinga) who committed such a heinous act, even if we lose that seat."

He said this while at the SMS Hospital in Jaipur to meet the assistant engineer. Meanwhile, CM Gehlot condemned the incident and slammed the Bharatiya Jan ta Party (BJP) for fielding Malinga from the Bari seat. "The incident is beyond condemnation. (Giriraj Singh) Malinga was a (Congress) MLA but he was arrested within six months. There was no lacking on the government's part. Our party took a stand and decided to not give him a ticket. However, BJP which used to criticise us over the incident, has now given a ticket to him," he said.

He had joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. “Girraj Singh Malinga ji, who is a three-time MLA holding immense influence in eastern Rajasthan, is joining the BJP today, despite a guarantee of a ticket from the Congress. Malinga ji is an influential leader connected to the ground. With his influence over all 36 kaum (communities), not only does he have a hold in Dholpur, but also across eastern Rajasthan. With him joining the family, the strength of the BJP in that entire area will surely increase by several times,” Shekhawat said at a press conference while inducting Malinga into the party.

Rajasthan is all set to vote on Nov 25 and the results will be declared on Dec 3.