Uproar over elder from SC community forced to lick ground as Opposition alleges display of casteism

After uproar over an elderly man from the Scheduled Caste community allegedly forced to lick the ground after accidentally urinating near a temple in Lucknow, Opposition parties on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) described the incident as a “naked display” of the anti-SC mindset of casteism and feudalism. The parties have demanded protection, support, respectable compensation, and medical facilities for the victim.

“Forcing a Dalit elder to lick urine is not just a crime, but a naked display of the age-old anti-Dalit mentality of casteism and feudalism. We have come to know, the person accused in the case belongs to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), this is the pattern in Uttar Pradesh, where Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Dalits are being humiliated in every possible way. In Uttar Pradesh, from vandalised statues of Ambedkar to casteist slurs against OBCs, Dalits, a full display of anti-constitutional Manusmriti-centric mindset is at display. This is not only a disgrace to humanity but also an attack on the very spirit of the Constitution,” said Anil Yadav, a senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader.

Mr. Yadav demanded a judicial enquiry into continuous incidents of atrocities on people and identities belonging to Scheduled Caste communities across U.P.

In the Lucknow incident, a 60-year-old man from the Scheduled Caste community was allegedly forced to lick the ground near Sheetla Maataa Mandir in Kakori area on the outskirts of the State capital on Deepavali.

While the accused has been arrested, the senior citizen’s grandson claimed his grandfather has breathing difficulties, and he had accidentally urinated while coughing. In the complaint, the victim alleged that the accused started hurling casteist words against the elderly man.

Lucknow Police registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and under provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

According to police, the accused has claimed that the man from the Scheduled Caste community was only forced to touch the ground. “My grandfather did not tell anyone about the incident in the night. After he narrated the incident, we lodged a police complaint,” said the grandson of the victim to local reporters.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh termed the incident a blot on our society. “Humanity is above caste and creed. The inhuman treatment meted out to a Dalit elder in Lucknow, the disgusting thought of making him lick urine and asking him to “purify” the temple is a blot on our society. Today, a delegation of Aam Aadmi Party Uttar Pradesh met the victim’s family. I myself spoke to the victim, listened to his pain and assured him of all possible support in his fight for justice,” Mr. Singh posted on X.