Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday responded to a barb thrown at her by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath over sweeping the floor at a makeshift detention centre in Sitapur where she lodged earlier this week, heading to a Dalit-dominated area of Lucknow and sweeping the floor at the locality’s Valmiki temple.
“Yogi Adityanath’s comments are anti-Dalit. No work is menial. Sweeping and mopping the floor is not a small job. Millions of women and Dalits do so every day,” said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a statement issued by the Congress leaders, quoting her on social media after her visit to Lucknow’s Luv Kush Nagar.
Priyanka Gandhi also said she went to clean the floor to tell the chief minister that this was the work of self-respect and symbolised simplicity, adding that he should change his mindset.
Her dart, aimed at Yogi Adityanath, was triggered by his swipe at her during his interview to a news channel.
“Janata unko usi layak banana chahti hai aur janata ne unko usi layak bana diya hai (People want to make her fit for such work and they have made her fit to do so). These people (opposition) do not have anything to do except creating a nuisance and spreading negativity,” Yogi Adityanath said.
Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker and UP vice-president Vijay Pathak brushed aside her reaction as a stunt to try reviving the Congress. “The Congress should also work to sort out problems of Dalits instead of doing stunts. The BJP government is doing a lot of good work and she should also look at that too and give suggestions for what more can be done. We are members of the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invites suggestions from all sections in his Maan Ki Baat. So Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should show some positivity.”
{{/usCountry}}Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker and UP vice-president Vijay Pathak brushed aside her reaction as a stunt to try reviving the Congress. “The Congress should also work to sort out problems of Dalits instead of doing stunts. The BJP government is doing a lot of good work and she should also look at that too and give suggestions for what more can be done. We are members of the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invites suggestions from all sections in his Maan Ki Baat. So Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should show some positivity.”
{{/usCountry}}Senior Congress leader PL Punia said Priyanka Gandhi’s cleaning the temple premises was her reply to chief minister Yogi Adityanath comment that appeared to consider sweeping the floor a menial job. Congress workers raised slogans outside in her favour as Priyanka cleaned the temple inside.
“Chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s comments can’t be appreciated. But did Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ever visit a Valmiki temple or a Dalit’s house earlier to sweep the floor? No one has seen Priyanka doing so in the past five years. Her action at this point of time, when assembly elections are closer, speaks of her political motives of wooing the Dalits and get their votes,” said Professor SK Dwivedi, former head of department of political science, Lucknow University.
BJP spokesperson Chandra Mohan: “The Congress has no concern for the Dalits. They (Congress leaders) come to the state as political tourists. The BJP has undertaken a lot of measures for the welfare of Dalits. The BJP government has got a record number of toilets constructed. The Congress has done nothing for the welfare of Dalits.”