Congress leaders ‘caught’ feasting before their fast

Photos of Congress leaders eating breakfast before they observed a day-long fast on Monday to protest against incidents of caste-based violence in the country are being circulated in an attempt to divert from the real issue, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said.

Party leaders, including Mr. Maken and former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, had gathered at Rajghat to promote communal harmony.

The event was attended by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Chhole bhature

While the leaders were still sitting at a makeshift stage at the site, photos of several Delhi Congress leaders, including Mr. Maken and former Delhi Ministers Arvinder Singh and Haroon Yusuf, eating chhole bhature were shared on social media, leading to attacks from the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Maken said: “Our fast was planned from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The photo being shared is from 7.50 a.m. Our plan was to put the attention on the need for communal harmony in the country. The BJP is trying to divert attention from the real issue.”

The photo, taken at Chaina Ram confectioners in Chandni Chowk, was clicked by someone working at the eatery as they were happy to have the Congress leaders visit their establishment, said Mr. Maken.

Both the BJP and the AAP took the opportunity to hit out at the Congress. The Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, accused the Congress leadership of politicising the issue of Dalit rights.

“The Congress’ fake revolutionaries were pretending to fast for the cause. Pictures being circulated in the media are evidence that these Congress leaders were faking the whole two-hour fast after stuffing themselves. This is a mockery of the whole issue of Dalit rights,” Mr. Gupta said.

AAP Delhi spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said Monday’s event was “bad intentioned attempt by the Congress to hijack the non-political Dalit movement” and the “photo points to that”.