Congress Silent On Plight Of Dalits In Bangladesh, Shouting 'Sambhal-Sambhal' Only For Muslim Votes: Mayawati

Mayawati said that a large number of Hindus who are facing atrocities in Bangladesh are Dalits, who were mostly from a Hindu-majority area that was unjustly handed over to Pakistan during Partition.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati hit out at the Congress on Saturday, accusing the party of remaining silent on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. She said that many of them are Dalits and from marginalised communities but the party is busy raising a hue and cry over Sambhal to pledge Muslim voters.

According to a report by news agency PTI, Mayawati alleged that the Congress' "mistake" during Partition left Dalits in the neighbouring country vulnerable and urged the central government to take steps to bring them back to India. She accused the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and their allies of neglecting Dalits' suffering, particularly in Parliament, and of focusing instead on issues aimed at wooing Muslim voters.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Mayawati said that a large number of Hindus who are facing atrocities in Bangladesh are Dalits, who were mostly from a Hindu-majority area that was unjustly handed over to Pakistan during Partition — now part of Bangladesh — as "punishment" for electing Dr B.R. Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly.

She said the suffering came as a result of casteist games of the Congress and requested the Centre to take steps in order to ensure their safety and security with a possible return to India. "Now when they are being exploited, the Congress, despite being the main opposition party, is silent on their plight and is shouting 'Sambhal-Sambhal' only for Muslim votes. In this matter, Congress, SP and their supporting parties are two sides of the same coin," she added.

"The BJP-led central government should proactively fulfil its responsibility towards the Dalits facing atrocities there... In light of this mistake by the Congress, it (the Centre) should talk to the government there to bring the Dalits back to India. Our party will be grateful to the BJP-led central government for this. Otherwise, we will understand that there is no difference between the Congress and the BJP on the issue of Dalits," she further said.

BSP Chief Mayawati Claims SP, Congress Attempting To Woo Muslim Voters

BSP chief accused opposition parties, particularly the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, of prioritising political gains over national and public interests. She claimed they are attempting to woo Muslim voters under the guise of addressing the Sambhal violence, which took place amid protests against a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque on November 24.

"Not only this, but these parties are also making the Muslim community, Turks and non-Turks, fight among themselves, for which the Muslim community also has to be cautious," Mayawati said.

Lashing out at the Dalit MPs for remaining silent over the issue she said, "What is even more saddening is that Dalit MPs are also mostly silent on the issues of Dalit oppression to please the bosses of their respective parties... whether it is the issue of Dalit oppression in the country or in Bangladesh."

Highlighting the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh, she claimed over 200 attacks on Hindus have been reported in more than 50 districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5.