‘People don’t take Rahul Gandhi seriously’: Dilip Saikia on purification row

Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia on Sunday, August 30 criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the ongoing ‘purification’ row, saying that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had no substantive public issues to raise.

Saikia said Gandhi’s remarks were not being taken seriously by the public and urged him to undertake a deeper study of India’s history, culture and legacy.

“Rahul Gandhi has no substantive public issues to raise. People do not take his remarks seriously and dismiss them lightly,” Saikia said.

The Assam BJP president said his party had no specific demand from Gandhi other than asking him to study India’s history, cultural heritage and the country’s tradition of valour and heroism.

Saikia’s remarks came amid a political controversy over an alleged ‘purification’ ritual at a venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a Congress rally addressed by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi has criticised the incident, alleging that it reflected caste discrimination and demanded action against those responsible.

The BJP has rejected the allegations and accused Gandhi and the Congress of misrepresenting the incident.