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Politics
Congress to Burn Effigies of Dalit Leader Hardeep Puri Amid Resignation Row
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 03:02 AM
👁 21
The Congress party announced it will burn effigies of Hardeep Puri today, alleging that the Dalit leader was compelled to resign under pressure, said party spokesperson Jitu Patwari.
Congress spokesperson Jitu Patwari said the party will stage a symbolic effigy‑burning of Hardeep Puri today, accusing senior party officials of forcing the Dalit leader to step down. Patwari claimed the resignation was not voluntary but the result of internal pressure aimed at sidelining Puri.
The announcement was made during a press briefing in New Delhi, where Patwari urged party workers to gather at designated locations to carry out the demonstration. He said the act is intended to highlight what the party perceives as an unjust removal of a prominent Dalit voice from its ranks.
No official response has yet been received from the leadership that allegedly orchestrated the resignation. Observers note that the move could intensify intra‑party tensions ahead of upcoming state elections, where Dalit representation remains a critical issue.
If carried out, the effigy burning will join a series of political protests in India where parties use symbolic acts to convey dissent. Security arrangements are being coordinated to ensure the demonstration remains peaceful.
The episode underscores ongoing debates within Congress about internal democracy and the treatment of minority leaders, topics that are likely to shape the party's narrative in the coming weeks.
The announcement was made during a press briefing in New Delhi, where Patwari urged party workers to gather at designated locations to carry out the demonstration. He said the act is intended to highlight what the party perceives as an unjust removal of a prominent Dalit voice from its ranks.
No official response has yet been received from the leadership that allegedly orchestrated the resignation. Observers note that the move could intensify intra‑party tensions ahead of upcoming state elections, where Dalit representation remains a critical issue.
If carried out, the effigy burning will join a series of political protests in India where parties use symbolic acts to convey dissent. Security arrangements are being coordinated to ensure the demonstration remains peaceful.
The episode underscores ongoing debates within Congress about internal democracy and the treatment of minority leaders, topics that are likely to shape the party's narrative in the coming weeks.