"Nehru-Gandhi family always regarded Hindus as second-class citizens": BJP MP Nishikant Dubey
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleges the Nehru-Gandhi family treated Hindus as second-class citizens, citing the 1966 anti-cow slaughter protests.
In a blistering attack on the Congress party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey has alleged that the Nehru-Gandhi family has historically viewed Hindus as "second-class citizens." These claims were made as part of the MP's ongoing social media series titled "Congress’s Dark Chapter," where he highlights specific historical events to criticize the legacy of the Congress leadership.
The 1966 Anti-Cow Slaughter Agitation
The core of Dubey's latest allegation centers on the events of 1966, specifically the protests against cow slaughter. According to the BJP MP, the push for a nationwide ban on cow slaughter was aligned with Article 48 of the Constitution, which was proposed under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Dubey detailed a series of meetings that took place in early 1966. He stated that the renowned saint Karpatri Ji Maharaj, accompanied by Bharatiya Jana Sangh MP Rameshwaranand, met with then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in February 1966 to propose the ban. This was followed by another meeting in March 1966 with the then Home Minister, Gulzarilal Nanda.
However, the MP alleged that the request was denied. He claimed that because the 1967 elections were approaching, the Congress leadership viewed the issue of "Mother Cow" through the lens of Hindu-Muslim divisions and consequently refused to implement the ban.
Allegations of State Brutality
The situation escalated on November 6 and 7, 1966, when Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj led thousands of sadhus in a massive demonstration on Delhi's Parliament Street. Nishikant Dubey alleged that the response from the state was barbaric.
"The result was that Indira Ji brutally ordered gunfire on the unarmed sadhus. Hundreds of sadhus were killed, and their bodies were made to disappear," Dubey claimed in his post on X.
The MP asserted that this violent crackdown sparked widespread outrage, leading to hunger strikes, protests, and demonstrations across the entire country.
The Role of the Judicial Committee
According to Dubey, Indira Gandhi sought to neutralize the resulting chaos and the perception of an "anti-Hindu mindset" by seeking the cooperation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He noted that the administration first removed Home Minister Gulzarilal Nanda from his post.
Following this, a judicial committee was formed to investigate the gunfire and the demand for a cow slaughter ban. The committee was led by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Amal Sarkar and included several prominent figures:
- MS Golwalkar (then RSS chief)
- The Shankaracharya of Puri
- Verghese Kurien of Amul Dairy
However, the BJP MP claimed that this committee was a mere formality. He alleged that no office was ever established for the committee, no meetings were held, and consequently, no report was ever produced.
Concluding his attack, Dr. Nishikant Dubey stated that the Nehru-Gandhi family never missed an opportunity to persecute Hindus, whom they consistently regarded as inferior citizens.