New Delhi- An alleged casteist outburst by a senior IAS officer in Gujarat has snowballed into a major political controversy, prompting the Congress party to launch a nationwide campaign demanding her immediate dismissal from service. The party aims to send a strong message that casteist behavior from public servants will not be tolerated in administration.

Neha Kumari, the District Collector of Mahisagar in Gujarat, finds herself at the center of a growing storm after she allegedly insulted a Dalit youth during a government program, stating he "deserved to be beaten with slippers" and reportedly using derogatory slurs against him.

The controversy deepened when she purportedly claimed that 90% of cases filed under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act were merely tools for blackmail, a statement that has drawn sharp criticism from Dalit rights activists and political leaders across the country.

The incident, which occurred on October 23, has triggered a swift and coordinated response from the Congress party, which has mobilized its state units across India.

Rajesh Lilothia, the National Chairman of the party's SC Department, issued a comprehensive directive to all state chairpersons on November 11, calling for immediate action against the officer. In his official communication, Lilothia strongly emphasized that public servants have a fundamental duty to protect all citizens, particularly those from marginalized communities.

He argued that a bureaucrat displaying such alleged casteist mindset is inherently unfit to serve as a public servant. To support these serious allegations, the party has stated it possesses video evidence of the incident.

Lilothia has issued directives to all state chairpersons of the party's SC Department asking to file formal complaints against Neha Kumari, submitting memorandums to respective state Governors and demanding immediate termination of the IAS officer.

The party is now coordinating with Dalit and Bahujan organizations to mount pressure for disciplinary action, marking a significant escalation in what began as a local incident but has now transformed into a nationwide movement against casteist behavior in public administration.

The seriousness of this initiative is reflected in the distribution of the directive, with copies being sent to key Congress leaders including the Congress President, K.C. Venugopal (General Secretary, Organization, AICC), K. Raju (National Coordinator for SC, ST, OBC & Minority Departments), and all National Coordinators of the SC Department, AICC. Through this coordinated effort, the Congress Party aims to establish a clear precedent that casteist behavior from public servants will not be tolerated within the administrative framework, emphasizing the need for immediate and decisive action in such cases.

Gujarat's Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mewani has publicly shared this letter on Twitter, indicating broader political support for action against the officer. The Congress Party's SC Department, along with various Dalit and Bahujan organizations, has committed to pursuing this matter.