Seeking votes from Muslims shows BJP's hypocrisy: Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar

Congress member in the Rajya Sabha Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar was involved in deciding the party's campaign strategy in Maharashtra. Mungekar, a former member of the Planning Commission, is a prominent Dalit leader who is campaigning extensively to retain the party's traditional vote bank. In an interview with Sanjay Jog, Mungekar talks about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s attempt to woo Dalits and Muslims and simultaneously pursue Hindutva agenda. Edited excerpts:

BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi has attacked the Congress for being anti-Dalit. What is your comment?

Ever since the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was formed in 1925, Dalits never figured in its agenda. Even in his home state of Gujarat, Modi is not serious in implementing some of the welfare policies meant for the community. This amounts to de-recognition to the substantial contribution, which the Dalit community is making to the building up of the economy and the nation at large. In fact, at one place, Modi has described the Dalit community as mentally retarded instead of calling them economically and educationally disadvantaged section. It shows Modi's mentality towards the Dalits. Again, according to scheduled castes sub plan, the Modi government is supposed to allocate 14 per cent of the Plan fund for the development of the Dalits, as the community constitutes 14 per cent of the state's population. However, his government has earmarked only 5.5 per cent. This shows he has a totally negative approach towards the economic uplift of the Dalits.