Haryana Cong to hold Dalit Maha Sammelan in Karnal on May 27

The Haryana Congress plans to hold a Dalit Maha Sammelan in Karnal on May 27 to protest against increase in crimes against the people belonging to the community, state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar said here today.

He claimed that the bias of the Khattar government against Dalits was evident from the fact that senior officers from the community were put on "insignificant posts".

"Atrocities against the Dalit community are on the rise under the BJP rule in Haryana. We will be holding a Dalit Maha Sammelan in Karnal on May 27 to highlight the issues facing the Dalit community," Tanwar told reporters here.

He added that he would restart the second phase of his "cycle yatra" from Sirsa on May 17 which would conclude on May 21.

"Through this yatra, which will culminate on May 21, when the death anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi is observed, we will apprise the people of state about the failure of the ruling BJP on all fronts. The government has failed to hold recruitment drives in a fair manner, check mining mafia and crimes against weaker sections. In the cash-for-job scam, the government is shying away from holding a judicial probe because it knows corruption have taken place," the state Congress chief said.

When asked if the end to the 'pugri' (turban) culture at rallies was indicative of an attempt by the party high command to check bickering within the state unit, he replied in negative and said it was rather an attempt to unite all workers irrespective of their regional or personal choice of leaders.

Tanwar also said that a "Samman Samaroh" would be organised by the state Congress soon to felicitate those who had ensured success of Sunday's "Jan Aakrosh" rally of party's national president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.

The state Congress chief said farmers, youths, labourers and the poor had been pushed into a "pathetic state" under the BJP rule.

"People are waiting to show the BJP the door in next elections," he said.