Surat, Jun 16 (IANS): Members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes in Gujarat on Thursday staged a protest against the Aam Aadmi Party for naming its committees Jay Bhim Morcha and Birsa Munda Morcha on their leaders.

An organisation named Samta Sainik Dal (SSD) led the protest in Surat against AAP and burnt its state unit president Gopal Italia in effigy.

Taking objection to it, SSD president Bhanu Chauhan said: "Why did AAP select only the leaders of backward communities to name their committees after. Why did it not name its committees Parshuram Morcha, Gandhi Morcha, Sardar Morcha and so on?. It is playing caste card for getting votes."

By doing this, the party has only exposed its casteist mindset, Chauhan alleged and added: "We strongly condemn the naming of AAP's committees after our leaders. SSD hopes that Gopal Italia and other AAP leaders realise their mistakes and take corrective measures immediately.

Meanwhile, coming to his party's defence, spokesman for AAP Yogesh Jadvani said one of the committees was named after Birsa Munda as a mark of respect to the leader and not to hurt the people's sentiments. "If it all it has hurt them, the party will rectify its mistake.