Rahul Gandhi to reach out to Dalits in two functions in Delhi

As planned, Indian National Congress is trying to attract its traditional Dalit voters and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is leading from the front. Rahul Gandhi will address two Dalit conventions in Delhi on Tuesday.

At 9:45 in the morning, Rahul will inaugurate National Awareness Camp Scheduled Cast Empowerment at Vigyan Bhawan. The two-day camp has been organised by National Commission of Scheduled Caste headed by Congress MP P.L. Punia. "Around 300 delegates will attend the camp and discussions will take place on issues and concerns of Dalits in today's society," said K. Raju, Congress SC department chairman. With Rahul's address at 10 am in the morning, the function will start. There will be Dalit thinkers and intellectuals from across the country who would take part in debates and discussions.

Shri Rahul Gandhi will reach Talkatora Stadium directly from Vigyan Bhawan. At 11 am, he will address a National Conference on Dalit Adhikar Diwas organised by All India Valmiki Federation. The conference will discuss among other things, the abolition of manual scavenging and new proposals for the welfare of Dalits.

It is understood that Rahul Gandhi will talk about the government schemes for the empowerment of Dalits and appeal them to join hands with Congress.

Earlier on August 27 this year, Rahul had addressed a convention in New Delhi, National Dialogue on Social Disparity organised by National Commission for Scheduled Castes.  Rahul had promised maximum representation of Dalits in the upcoming elections. Today Rahul will repeat his promise. Under him, Congress had been trying to get back the Dalit vote bank which has now shifted to different regional parties over a period of time. Rahul started his efforts much before UP Assembly elections last year. His much hyped stopovers at Dalit villages and homes made national headlines. But despite all that, the party could win only five out of all the 85 reserved constituencies in UP Assembly elections.

Rahul believes that Dalits are not aware of what the government has been doing for their welfare and that's why they are alienated from Congress. With the renewed focus on Dalits, Congress is trying to gain maximum especially in UP where Mayawati-led BSP controls the Dalit vote.

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