During a special debate on the Constitution, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi delivered a fiery speech, quoting Mahabharata's Eklavya and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, in the context of caste oppression in India. Gandhi accused the BJP of going against the principles of the Constitution and raised issues like caste census, removal of quota ceiling, and the Hathras rape-murder case to highlight the party's neglect towards the lower caste and marginalized sections of society.
Eklavya and the Debate on Caste Oppression in India
Background:
Eklavya, a character in the Indian epic Mahabharata, is renowned for his unwavering dedication and the concept of "guru-shishya" tradition, where a disciple seeks knowledge from a respected teacher. However, Eklavya was denied knowledge by Dronacharya, the royal teacher of archery, due to his lower caste status. This event highlights the persistent issue of caste discrimination in Indian society.
Recent Debate:
In a special debate on the Constitution in the Indian Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi used the story of Eklavya to draw parallels with the current state of caste oppression in India. He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of disregarding the principles of the Constitution and neglecting the rights of marginalized sections of society.
Gandhi cited specific incidents such as the caste census debate, the removal of the quota ceiling for caste-based reservations, and the Hathras rape-murder case as examples of the BJP's alleged anti-lower caste policies. He also quoted Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar, who advocated for a caste-based social hierarchy.
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