JOIN USNewly-elected Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani on Friday slammed the BJP-led NDA government, saying he is being targeted by slapping "childish" cases related to violence in Maharashtra.
Mevani said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who claims that he is an "Ambedkar bhakt", should make his stand clear on whether Dalits in this country can peacefully take out a rally anywhere in the country.
Denying that he made any "inflammatory" speech in Pune during a function related to celebrating 200 years of Bhima Koregaon battle, he said, "I am being targeted. They are using childish charges to target me...Why aren't Dalits safe in this country? Why is the monster of caste still alive when we are trying to find out if there is water on Mars.
"I would tell you that not one word I spoke is inflammatory. I am a trained lawyer, I respect the law, I am also a lawmaker now."
Mevani and JNU student Umar Khalid were booked by the Pune police for "creating communal disharmony" at an event. The event was followed by a series of protests across Maharashtra.
"If efforts are made to tarnish my image by false and frivolous complaints, then we will teach you a lesson in 2019," he said.
He also said that they will hold a youth rally in Delhi and will present the prime minister an option to choose between the Manusmriti and Constitution.