Let’s look at the statements from Jawaharlal Nehru, M K Gandhi and Narendra Modi. For judging them, notice the similarity in the below statements. What all these leaders spoke is basically RSS’s samarasata solution to castes. They all follow the premise of Brahmanism that people are created unequal by God and Dalits should accept whatever status is given to them in the society.

Narendra Modi

In 2007, Prime Minister Modi published a book named Karmayog which states on page 48-49 that the manual scavenging as something Valmikis’ would not have done, had they not felt that it was their calling.

“I do not believe that they have been doing this job just to sustain their livelihood. Had this been so, they would not have continued with this type of job generation after generation.” He adds, “At some point of time, somebody must have got the enlightenment that it is their (Valmikis’) duty to work for the happiness of the entire society and the Gods; that they have to do this job bestowed upon them by Gods; and that this job of cleaning up should continue as an internal spiritual activity for centuries. This should have continued generation after generation. It is impossible to believe that their ancestors did not have the choice of adopting any other work or business.”

In response to the book, Dalits protested and the book was called back. Dalits made clear specifically that, we (Dalits) are not going to clean up people’s dirt anymore. Modi, now you are welcome to experience the spirituality that is supposed to be there in scavenging.

Again, on 25 April 2010, Narendra Modi is reported to have observed while releasing his book Samajik Samrasata that Dalits were like mentally retarded children.

To think Dalits are mentally retarded is purely Brahminism.

Jawaharlal Nehru

In 1936, Babu Jagjivan Ram invited Jawaharlal Nehru to inaugurate the Scheduled Caste Conference in Lucknow. In his inaugural address, Jawaharlal Nehru said, among other things, that those who do the menial job of carrying excreta were greater than God. At that point, Babu Jagjivan Ram got up immediately and snapped back that having done the said job for centuries, Dalits have already surpassed Gods and have become Gods and that maybe the upper castes that Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru belongs to should now take up the task of carrying excreta and become Gods.

The conference quickly came to an end after that! No surprise.

Read also – How Nehru was casteist and what he did with Dr Ambedkar

M. K. Gandhi

Gandhi has been perhaps the pioneer in creating an ascriptive and patronising label for Dalits in modern times. While he always claimed to identify with and represent the Untouchables, he has also used the term like ‘uncultured’ and ‘dumb’ for them highlighting his distance and difference from masses. Look at this advice from Gandhi to the caste Hindu workers for the Harijan cause: “Workers in the Harijan cause… must come in closest touch with utterly unsophisticated, innocent, ignorant men and women who might be likened to children in intelligence.”[Harijan, 07.11.1936] Is there any difference in this and Modi’s calling Dalits retarded? [Dr. Anand Teltumbde]

Be it Congress, be it BJP, all these so-called upper castes leaders and political parties have done nothing for the Dalits. All so-called upper castes leaders pay only lip service to Dalits’ upliftment and are insensitive to the condition of Dalits. It’s up to Dalits now to throw these Brahminical parties and Brahminical people out of power.

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