Calling the system of manual scavenging a curse on human society, BJP national president Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that if BJP comes to power it will end this system to restore pride among the people who are engaged in this work.
“This is a shame that people are still engaged in the work of manual scavenging. This system should have ended decades back. People are still engaged in manual scavenging and this shows scant respect that political parties have for these people,” Singh said while addressing a meeting of SC/ST cell of the party here on Sunday.
Few dalit organisations raised questions about political parties’ sensitivity over this issue. They asked Singh, who is also BJP’s candidate from lucknow, as why his party has not taken any step in this regard.
“I assure the people that if BJP comes to power at the Centre it will end the whole system of manual scavenging. Instead, people will be given jobs in different sectors where they can earn their livelihood with pride,” he said and added that his party believes in development of all sections of the society and it strives hard to achieve that.
Without naming the BSP, he said that some parties project themselves as real messiah of dalits but the fact is that these parties have used poor people as a vote bank to strengthen their political ambitions. “These parties have done nothing to improve the life of the poor,” he said.
Elaborating on BJP’s future plan he said under the able leadership of Narendra Modi, the party would start development projects and will take the country to a new height.
“People have seen how Gujarat has progressed under Modi. If he can cast jaadoo in Gujarat he can do it across the country too,” Singh said.
“Some political parties are now questioning Gujarat model of development. It is Rajiv Gandhi Foundation that has hailed the achievement of the party and this Foundation is headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi,” Rajnath said.Singh is in his constituency for two days. Earlier he held a meeting of teachers and intellectuals in Ramadhin Inter College and told them about party’s 272+ campaign. “Vote for BJP to fulfill the dreams of former prime minister Atal Bihari Bajpai,” he said.
BJP national president will take out Road Show on Monday. Cricket player Navjot Singh Sidhu is likely to accompany him in that road show.