We visit Dalit homes in spite of mosquitoes, says BJP leader: Highlights

Uttar Pradesh Education Minister Anupma Jaiswal got embroiled in a controversy on Friday when she said that ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are ensuring proper implementation of the schemes by visiting Dalit households, despite getting bitten by mosquitoes. Jaiswal is the third BJP minister to have made such a gaffe in a week. When asked about the controversy on Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana's visit to a Dalit household, Jaiswal said, "Schemes are made for benefitting all the sections and to ensure proper implementation, ministers are paying several visits, even if mosquitoes bite them all night."

Earlier this week, Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana dined at a Dalit home, but the photographs of a catered feast that emerged over social media triggered the controversy. The BJP leader was criticised by some members of the party too. BJP MP Udit Raj disapproved of party leaders having food at homes of Dalits as part of an outreach campaign. He warned that those who do not understand the aspirations of the community will face "consequences". Raj said that he "failed" to understand why politicians, academicians and intellectuals are not able to grasp the issues of Dalit community.