In an effort to woo the Dalit community ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday dined at a Dalit’s home and spent his night at another’s at nearby Mudhal village in the district.
Accompanied by senior BJP leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, district party president Rajesh Honey and other local leaders, the minister reached the residence of Balwinder Singh, who belongs to Dalit community, at around 7.15 pm and dined there. Prior to this, he also paid obeisance at the village gurdwara.
Balwinder is leader of local unit of BJP’s SC Morcha. After taking meal at his house, he left for the home of Niranjanjit Singh, another member of Dalit community in the village, where he was to spend his night.
While interacting with the media, Puri said, “I have come here on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to redress the grievances of the Dalit community.”
He said he would gather information about the problems being faced by the scheduled caste (SC) community in the village by spending his night there and submit a report to the Prime Minister.
To a question, he made it clear that they have no intention to gain political mileage from the act and they actually want to work for the betterment of the neglected community.
{{/usCountry}}To a question, he made it clear that they have no intention to gain political mileage from the act and they actually want to work for the betterment of the neglected community.
{{/usCountry}}He said after submitting a report to the PM, he would again visit the village.
Notably, BJP ministers are dining and spending nights at Dalits’ home throughout the country as part of the saffron party’s drive to reach out to the community.