Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was on Friday confronted with question why his party remains silent about the atrocities on Dalits in Gujarat.

Dalit activist Martin Macwan posed this question to the Congress leader minutes before handing over to him the country’s largest national flag that was not accepted by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani with the excuse that the Government did not have enough space to keep it safe.

Rahul Gandhi was here on Friday afternoon to receive the 125′ by 83′ tricolour made by students of the Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK) which trains them about empowerment and laws.

Not really perturbed by the pointed question from the host, Rahul Gandhi summed up his nearly 20-minute speech by saying that the Congress would strive not only to eradicate untouchability from every village but also from the minds of the people.

Addressing the gathering at the Dalit Shakti Kendra campus here, mostly comprising Dalits, Rahul Gandhi cleverly deflected the question towards the ruling BJP by asking “what has Modi done for the Dalits of Gujarat?”

Instantly came the reply “Una kand” (Una episode), referring to the lynching of a Dalit family by self-styled cow vigilantes.

Castigating Gujarat Chief Minister for not accepting the national flag, the Congress vice president had a dig at the BJP by saying that they don’t have space for the tricolour made with sweat and love of Dalits but “there is big space in their heart for few industrialists”.

Directly lampooning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s famous quote “nah khaoongaa, nah khane doongaa” (won’t take bribe, won’t let one take bribe), Rahul questioned his silence about the sky-rocketing of Jay Shah’s business from Rs 50,000/- to Rs 80 crores in just few months.

The Congress vice president also alleged that Modi dispensation is not convening the Parliament session on schedule because the BJP government doesn’t want any discussion on Jay Shah’s business, Rafeal deal and Doklam issue before the assembly elections in Gujarat.

Founder of the Dalit Shakti Kendra Martin Macwan also informed the Congress leader that Dalits have no entry into temples in 92 per cent of Gujarat’s villages, separate seating arrangements for Dalit children in 54 per cent villages during mid-day meals and Dalit sarpanches in 62 per cent villages are not allowed to sit on chairs meant for them.