Dalit PM proposal in Cong magazine

An article in the inhouse magazine Congress Sandesh has raised eyebrows by expressing hopes that the party would some day give the country its first Dalit Premier.

At a time when Congress workers see Rahul Gandhi as their future PM, an article in their inhouse magazine Congress Sandesh has raised eyebrows by expressing hopes that the party would some day give the country its first Dalit Premier. Asked about his write up, editor Anil Shastri said the phrase he used was “some day in the future’’ which should be read in the context of the theme of Dalit empowerment the latest issue is devoted to.

HT Image

The article is meant to help party workers counter BSP leader Mayawati’s sway over dalits and dispel the misconception that SCs do not identify with their party. It recalled how the Congress gave Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan or Maharashtra their first dalit CMs and the country its first dalit president and home minister. Shastri added that if Indira Gandhi had been allowed to have a dalit CM in UP in the early 70s, things would have been very different for the party there today.