Led by singer-turned-politicians and Congress leader Hans Raj Hans, hundreds of Congress workers staged a protest on Thursday against chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Virsa Singh Valtoha at Bhikhiwind, 20 km from here, for his controversial remark on Dr BR Ambedkar.
Read more: AAP seeks case against Valtoha for outburst against Ambedkar
Bhikhiwind is a small town which falls under Khemkaran assembly segment from where Valtoha is an MLA. After carrying out a march on the road at around 12 pm, the Congress workers burnt effigy of the SAD leader seeking unconditional apology from CM Parkash Singh Badal and removal of Valtoha from the post.
Speaking to HT on the sidelines of the protest, Hans said Dr Ambedkar counted among world famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru and his contribution for the country is unprecedented.
“He drafted the constitution not only for dalits, but for the country. What Valtoha spoke about Dr Ambedkar revealed the thinking of Akalis for dalits. Due to this kind of thinking, I quit the party few months ago,” he added.
Pertinently, he said dalits would play key role in Punjab assembly elections of 2017 and support would be decisive as their population is increasing day by day as compare to other communities. “Only that political party would win the elections which will bring the dalit concerns on its core agenda. Congress has already struggling for interests of dalits, so the community stands with it”, Hans said.
{{/usCountry}}Pertinently, he said dalits would play key role in Punjab assembly elections of 2017 and support would be decisive as their population is increasing day by day as compare to other communities. “Only that political party would win the elections which will bring the dalit concerns on its core agenda. Congress has already struggling for interests of dalits, so the community stands with it”, Hans said.
{{/usCountry}}On being asked whether the Congress will register a case against the CPS Hans said Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh and party high command will decide over it.
Former cabinet minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar said Valtoha’s remark against the Ambedkar is unbearable. If Badal does not take any action against him, the dalit community will punish him during the elections, he said
If Valtoha is not sacked by the government as CPS, we will mobilise the people against him, said Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, district president of Congress.