Saswati Sarma , Lucknow , October 9 : Congress National General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra headed towards a Dalit slum in Lucknow on Friday and picked a broom to sweep the premises of Valmiki Samaj Ashram in order to counter Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adiyanath’s purported remark to a TV channel that people would downgrade her for sweeping the floor.
Claiming that there was no shame in sweeping floors , Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spent time with the members of the sweeper community. She says , “It is a matter of pride that exemplifies the desire to serve and stay humble”. Later while talking to reporters , she said the CM’s comment is disregard for Dalits and Congress will not tolerate this attitude. Taking on the CM’s “casteist comment” , Ms Gandhi Vadra later in a tweet announced that all district committees of party will clean Valmiki temples on Saturday.
The CM earlier in the day had said “Janata Unko usi kayak banana chahti , aur usi layak bana diya “. In this response , Ms Gandhi replied , “He has not humiliated me by saying so but to all the Dalit brothers and sisters , and I have come here for cleaning and let Yogi ji know that using a broom is an act of self-respect.”