A joint SAD-BJP delegation today submitted a complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes demanding registration of a criminal case under the provisions of the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Amendment Act, 2015 against Congress leader Jaijeet Singh Johal alias Jojo as well as other Congress leaders for making casteist and derogatory remarks against the dalit community at a dharna in Bathinda two days back. National Commission for SCs Director Raj Kumar Chhanena after giving a patient hearing to the delegation issued notice to the Bathinda SSP to register FIR against all the perpetrators on the basis of videographic evidence as per the law within three days. The joint SAD-BJP delegation including senior leaders Gulzar Singh Ranike, Charanjit Singh Atwal, Pawan Kumar Teenu of SAD and Avtar Singh Sikri and Jasbir Singh Mehta of BJP besides others while submitting a written complaint to National Commission for SCs Director Raj Kumar Chhanena along with videographic proof, informed the Commission that atrocities were committed at the dharna purportedly held for the welfare of the weaker sections at the instance of Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal.The leaders said as per the video of the entire incident which had gone viral, Jojo was seen smirking and laughing on the issue of discussion about the dalit community. They said Jojo did not stop there and went on to make offensive remarks about the skin colour and complexion of members of the SC community.
Telling the sequence of events to the National Commission for SC Director, the SAD-BJP delegation said Jojo first asked SC leaders to come forward laughingly while interacting with the media. They said following this one of Jojo’s supporters mocked the community by pointing to one dark complexioned leader sitting on dharna and saying “eh SC varga hi hai” and everyone burst into laughter. The delegation said Jojo continued with the insulting behavior by pointing to another leader and saying ‘eh tere ton vi kaala hai”. Stating that these disparaging remarks were made in the presence of members of the SC community in public view, the leaders said the same had offended the senses of the entire SC community. The delegation pointed out that as per the amended provisions of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 any attempt to disparage or hurt SCs by ridiculing the community as a whole and discriminating against them solely on the basis of their colour and skin complexion was the gravest of offences and the perpetrators deserved to be awarded the most stringent punishment for the same. The complaint also pointed out that the feudal mindset of the Congress as well as the family of finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal had become apparent after this shameful incident. It said what was most shocking was that dalits were insulted at a gathering held ostensibly in support of them at the instance of the State finance minister. The delegation said this was a fit case for setting an example as the derogatory remarks were made by public functionaries who were supposed to be custodians of the SC community and not their tormentors.Those present on the occasion included Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Judge Nirmal Singh, Darshan Shivalik, Dr Sukhwinder Kumar, Baldev Khaira and SR Kler Desraj Dhugga.