New Delhi: In an attempt to attract Dalit voters in the Capital, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari on Sunday addressed a Dalit Yuva Sammelan organised by the state unit of the saffron party, urging them to take an oath to vote BJP back into power in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Comparing Narendra Modi with the former Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Tiwari said that their party is the only one that has continuously worked for the development of Dalit societies in India.
Placing the Congress at a polar opposite, the MP from North East Delhi claimed that the INC has only used Dalits as a vote-bank and "played politics" in their name, without ever actually working for their development. Tiwari also attacked the Congress for apparently not allowing BR Ambedkar's last rites to be performed in the Capital. He said, "Congress has brought shame to the Dalit community."
Citing examples of the BJP government developing monuments to honour Dalit pride, like the 'panchteerth", where five monuments were made to commemorate the achievements and life of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, Tiwari added that his party was that one that truly cares for the community.
He further went on to say that by setting up the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Modi has made information about Dalit history and achievements all the more accessible by informing people of the life of Ambedkar. Tiwari also claimed that Modi is working in all areas of society and that his re-election as Prime Minister will "shape the future of the country".
In addition to this, Tiwari also mentioned that under BJP, the central government has come up with schemes that support Dalits to set up their own businesses. He claimed that the central government under Modi's leadership has approved loans for Dalits up to Rs 1 crore at interest rates as little as 4 per cent.