Chennai: The incident of not inviting Congress' national President and Dalit leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, to the G20 gala dinner by the Central government drew criticism from Mohan Kumaramangalam, a Congress leader from Tamil Nadu, who accused the Modi government of perpetuating caste discrimination within the political landscape.
Kumaramangalam's criticism resonated in the midst of the Sanatana Dharma controversy, which was triggered by Tamil Nadu minister Udayanithi Stalin.
Kumaramangalam did not mince words when criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, "Modi hai toh Manu hai," implying that the Prime Minister is upholding the legacy of Maharshi Manu, an ancient Hindu sage credited with composing the Manusmriti.
This ancient Sanskrit text has been a subject of controversy, as it is often described as a guide to Hindu conduct but has faced criticism for promoting caste-based discrimination.
The Congress leader highlighted several instances from the past where leaders from backward classes were excluded from important events.
He mentioned that former President Ramnath Kovind was not invited to the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and President Droupadi Murmu was also not invited to the opening ceremony of the new Parliament building.
These allegations have not gone unnoticed within the political arena, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also joining the chorus of criticism against the Modi government. Gandhi asserted that the exclusion of Mallikarjun Kharge from the G20 Summit and the broader issue indicated a disregard for the leader of the Opposition and a failure to acknowledge the leadership of a significant portion of the nation's population.
Kharge's office has confirmed that he was not invited to the G20 gala dinner, but reports indicate that leaders of other political parties have also not received invitations.
The guest list for the dinner comprises Cabinet members, state ministers, chief ministers, secretaries to the Government of India, and other distinguished guests, raising questions about the criteria used for invitations to this high-profile event.