Himachal BJP chief booked for 'casteist' remarks

In a major setback to the ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh ahead of panchayat and municipal polls, BJP state president Khimi Ram and another party leader has been booked for allegedly making casteist remarks.

SP (Kullu) Abhishek Dhular confirmed that a case against Ram and Dharamvir Dhami has been registered under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act, 1989 on the complaint of Kullu BJP president Ram Singh.

Singh had claimed that the BJP president had made derogatory remarks against his caste publicly.

The issue has come handy to opposition Congress and HPCC president Kaul Singh Thakur has demanded resignation of Khimi Ram.

The matter was all the more serious as his own party leader has made the complaint, Thakur said, adding that Ram should apologise for his remarks and tender resignation from the post failing which the party should dismiss him.