“When you talk to them (BJP MPs) in Parliament, they admit Modiji is casteist and anti-Dalit, does not have any place in his heart for Dalits. The entire nation knows this—it is not a secret.”

Congress president Rahul Gandhi led his party on a day-long fast at Rajghat. The fast was intended as a catch-all protest against the Narendra Modi government and the lack of discussion in Parliament on controversial issues, including the SC/ST Act and special status for Andhra Pradesh. BJP spokespeople described it as “mithyagraha”, or the farce of fasts, and made barbed comments about Congress leaders sitting down to plates of chhole bhature before the fast. The Congress, the BJP said, is poking fun at Dalits with this ludicrous fast. In the meantime, the BJP announced its own fast protesting the impasse in Parliament and the wastage of another session. Prime Minister Modi joined his colleagues in their fast.