New Delhi, April 23: Blaming the Congress for the poor state of Dalits in the country, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday said it was their votes that attracted politicians to them.
"Who would have approached the Dalits had they no voting power? Had not the Dalits been given the right to vote, do you think (Congress President) Rahul Gandhi would have gone to their homes and eaten food with them," Paswan told reporters here.
"The Dalits got the voting rights on the basis of the Poona pact between Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi," he added.
The Minister was replying to a query about Gandhi's allegations of increasing atrocities on Dalits since Narenddra Modi became the Prime Minister.
"It is fine that you go to their places. But do something for them when you come to power. Who is responsible if even after 70 years of independence that Dalits are subjected to atrocities? Is it the (NDA) government of the last 48 months or the government of 48 years (by Congress)?" asked Paswan, whose LJP is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance.
Taking a dig at the Congress leader, he said: "If Rahul Gandhi eats food at a Dalit's house, it is a good thing. But it is not the case if (BJP President) Amit Shah does the same."
Paswan said the community had always been important to Indian politics and the Congress suffered electoral defeats in the past because it cheated them.
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Govt launches Haj Suvidha App 2.0 for ease of pilgrims
New Delhi, Nov 23: The Minority Affairs Ministry on Saturday launched the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 with the new version introducing key features such as air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims going on Haj.
The application was launched by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju after he inaugurated the Conference of Chairpersons of State and UT Haj Committees in the presence of Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian and Chairman of the Haj Committee of India Abdullahkutti, among others.
In his address, Rijiju noted that the Haj pilgrimage is the largest logistical operation undertaken annually by the government of India beyond its borders.
He emphasised that Haj has long been a cornerstone of the strong bilateral relationship between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Rijiju highlighted several significant reforms aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience, including the removal of the discretionary quota, the integration of technology through the Haj Suvidha App, and the provision of facilities for female pilgrims without Mehram.
Kurian spoke about the new measures being implemented for Haj 2025, designed to enhance the comfort and convenience of the Indian pilgrims.
Among the key initiatives, he mentioned the procurement of modern buildings with lifts not only in Aziziya but also in nearby areas close to the Haram.
Additionally, the latest model buses will be introduced for travel between Makkah, Madinah, and within the Mashaer region.
The conference, organised by the Haj Committee of India under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, also marked the launch of the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 by Rijiju.
Building on the success of the Haj Suvidha App 1.0 in 2024, the new version introduces key features such as the selection process, boarding pass and air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims.
The conference included discussions on stakeholder feedback, suggestions and preparations.
