Tariq Karra’s shameful handkerchief insult unmasks Congress’ Dalit hypocrisy

JAMMU: The viral but shameful picture of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hameed Karra – covering his hand with a handkerchief while shaking hands with a Dalit family – has shocked the entire nation. This is not just reprehensible because Karra is insulting Dalits but a chilling reminder of how deeply ingrained caste arrogance continues to plague the Congress and other pseudo seculars, who leave no opportunity to divide the Hindu society for their nefarious political agendas-divide and rule.

In a country where the Constitution enshrines equality and the right to dignity for every citizen, the actions of politicians like Tariq Karra speak volumes about the ground reality.
This single gesture has unmasked the true face of the Congress that keeps trumpeting the Dalit card and sheds crocodile tears on the plight of the downtrodden and socially marginalized. By instinctively using a handkerchief to avoid skin contact, Karra did not just insult the family standing before him – he insulted the very idea of equality, the spirit of the Constitution, and the soul of India. It is this kind of caste-based prejudice on public display by none other than a leader of a party that never fails to lecture others on inclusion.
Such behavior cannot be seen in isolation. It is reflective of a larger rot within the Congress party – one that has long mastered the art of exploiting caste identities not for empowerment, but for political gains. Congress’s brand of secularism, which has now morphed into selective appeasement, is built not on genuine upliftment of weaker sections but on deepening social fissures to engineer vote banks. What Karra did was not a momentary lapse in judgment; it was a display of an ingrained mindset that views certain sections of society as children of lesser gods.
This is the same Congress that chants the mantra of “social justice” during elections but routinely fails to walk the talk when it matters. The handkerchief was not just fabric – it was a symbol of untouchability, of an internalized bias that sees Dalits as impure. Is this the leadership that roams around with a red book of the Constitution and claims to represent the ideals of Ambedkar?
The Congress, alongside its ecosystem of self-declared secularists, has for decades played a dangerous game of identity politics. By constantly categorizing citizens into vote-worthy silos – Dalits, minorities, tribes – they have encouraged a politics of division. Far from creating unity, their actions deepen social insecurities and perpetuate the very divisions they claim to combat. The incident with Karra is a shameful example of how this divisive politics manifests itself even in seemingly routine interactions.
Karra’s shameful act must be examined within the broader context of an ongoing ideological war against India’s civilizational identity. Pseudo-secular forces, under the garb of protecting the “idea of India,” have consistently aligned themselves to fragment the nation – not just politically but culturally. From stoking fears among minority communities to undermining the very foundation of Hindu society through caste fragmentation, the objective has remained singular: to destabilize the social equilibrium of the nation.
It is no coincidence that these very forces – the Congress and its allies, infamously known as INDI Alliance- are actively courting extremist narratives and using emotional manipulation to effect a demographic and cultural shift. Their selective outrage, silence on real atrocities, and overemphasis on fabricated grievances expose their long-term agenda. The handkerchief was not just an object – it was a metaphor for the disdain these elites feel for the very masses they pretend to champion.
The disgraceful symbolism of Karra’s act must not be lost on the Dalit community. It is an insult to every Dalit who has fought and continues to fight for equality. It is an affront to the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who envisioned a casteless society rooted in justice, liberty, and fraternity. To allow such incidents to pass without consequence is to betray that vision.
The nation must ask: if this is how Congress leaders behave when cameras are rolling, how do they treat the marginalized when no one is watching? The Congress must apologise and remove Karra from his position. The party must understand that no amount of sloganeering can whitewash such a vile act. Anything less would be a tacit approval of casteist behavior. It is not only the Congress that has been exploiting Dalits but others too want to use them for their sinister agenda like Gazwa-e-Hind by dividing the Hindu society in general.
It is time to reject the elements like Karra, who exploit caste for politics while privately upholding its worst prejudices. What Karra did was not just offensive – it was symbolic of a much larger problem. And until such casteist arrogance is not just condemned but uprooted from our politics, the dream of a truly equal India will remain just a dream.