Una incident: Brinda Karat questions PM Modi, taunts Gujarat Model

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Thursday taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the Una incident and said that he stands exposed today as the Gujarat Model has always been a model of social and economic injustice.

Talking to ANI, Karat said blatant casteist politics has increased in the country under Prime Minister Modi's regime, which is influenced by the Hindutva brigade ideology.

"First it was Muslims who continued to be attacked in the name of cow protection and now it is Dalits and definitely we have to intensify the protest against them," said Karat.

"Why is the Prime Minister silent? He goes on the talking about the Gujarat Model. Now, when the Gujarat Model is being burnt on the streets of Gujarat, why is Modi ji is silent? Why his tweets not to be seen simply because the Gujarat Model has always been a model of social and economic injustice and that is what is exposed in Gujarat today," she added.

The CPI (M) leader's remark came in response to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visit to Gujarat to meet the Una incident victims' family.

The ruling BJP at the Centre has, however, dubbed Gandhi's visit as a political stunt.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu took a dig at Gandhi, saying that at a time when Parliament is debating the issue then he should have been there.

Naidu wondered as to why Gandhi did not visit Kerala and other places where Dalit atrocities took place in recent past.

Naidu said the state government has taken prompt action against the people behind the ghastly crime in which some Dalits were thrashed over the allegation of killing of cow.

Accusing the Congress and BSP of politicizing the issue, Naidu said the BJP and the NDA Government are committed for the social cohesion and will take every step in this direction.