Prove charges or quit: Jyotiraditya Scindia to BJP MPs

New Delhi: Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday came down heavily on the BJP MPs in Lok Sabha for accusing him of being anti-dalit. He challenged some BJP MPs to either prove their contention or quit.

The BJP MPs had alleged that, a hospital building was “washed with Gangajal or holy water from the Ganga river” before Mr Scindia visited it to inaugurate a new trauma centre, because a dalit BJP leader had visited it the previous day. The allegation was stoutly denied by Mr Scindia, he even sent a legal notice to BJP’s Madhya Pradesh chief Nandkumar Singh Chauhan over the allegations.

On Tuesday the Congress Chief Whip moved a privilege motion against the BJP MPs, Virender Kumar and Manohar Utwal, for what he has alleged are defamatory statements and has challenged them “to prove their claims.” The BJP MPs based their allegations on the statement of the Congress leader Amit Tawre who has been expelled by the Congress.

In a letter to the Lok Sabha speaker, Mr Scindia said, “I have nothing to do with the statement of the Congress worker nor did the purported washing of the site with Gangajal ever happen. The BJP’s rhetoric is a heinous attempt to malign my reputation and dignity in the House as well as with millions of people who watch Lok Sabha on television.”

He added, “They are trying to destroy my reputation built over 15 years with hard work for every community. I will resign from this house if they can prove that I have said or done anything. But if they cannot prove their allegations, then they must resign from Parliament.”

Mr. Scindia has also asked the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to give him time to clear his name. Also, he has demanded action against the BJP MPs.