Councillor thrashed, CM hits back

NEW DELHI: The two-day special session of the Delhi assembly had been called to discuss the state of sanitation in the city. That, however, got relegated to the background as a BJP councillor thrashed an AAP councillor at a joint session of the three corporations at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday, handing AAP a potent weapon. The man, Rakesh Kumar, who was assaulted is a Dalit and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was quick to pounce on this. Emerging from the house, he declared to the waiting throng of journalists that the attack was “utterly shameful” and they were seeking time from the President to discuss the matter. He warned the BJP against casteist attacks, saying that otherwise the people will unite to “decimate” the ruling party at the Centre.
The assembly, meanwhile, passed a resolution condemning the attack on the councillor and demanding action against the assaulters under the stringent provisions of the SC/ST Act. AAP compared the attack to what it described as a targeted campaign against Dalits, invoking Rohith Vemula.
Earlier, when the news broke on television, Kejriwal took to twitter. “Utterly shameful. BJP is a party of goondas. Rakesh is a Dalit. BJP assaulting Dalits all over India in a systematic way,” he tweeted. “Dalits are being attacked all over the country. Ever since the BJP government came to power in India, “goondagardi” has increased,” he said outside the house. “They forced Rohith Vemula to a point where he ended up committing suicide. Atrocities against Dalits are on the rise. The BJP must stop all this. If they don’t, I want to warn that not just Dalits but all other communities, including Hindus, Muslim, Christians and Sikhs, will come together and decimate the BJP. People of this country will not allow divisive forces to divide people on the lines of caste,” he said.
Earlier, barely three speakers had spoken on municipal governance when Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla, who represents a reserved constituency, screamed to draw the attention of the speaker to the attack on Kumar. She, along with other MLAs, demanded a discussion and a resolution condemning the attack. Spekaer Ram Niwas Goel adjourned the house for 15 minutes.
When the members reassembled, Seemapuri MLA Rajendra Gautam, who represents another reserved constituency, invoked Ambedkar to say that Dalits won’t tolerate these attacks and will unite to save humanity from forces trying to divide people on the lines of caste and class. Kasturba Nagar MLA Madanlal added he had faith in the justice system of the country.
Social welfare minister Sandeep Kumar, who represents the reserved constituency of Sultanpuri, said, “This is not the first time that a Dalit has been attacked. Rohit Vemula’s was a planned murder but it was made out to be a suicide.”
Adopting a resolution condeming the attack, that was “without any provocation”, the house directed the police commissioner to take strictest possible action againt the attackers under provisions of the SC/ST Act, IPC and all other applicable laws. It also demanded that all the assaulters seen in video footage be arrested immediately.