Page 11 - 15MAR2020E
P. 11
politics
n the birth New Dalit party get equal share in political
anniversary of power,” Chandrashekhar said
in an interaction with media.
founder of the
Bahujan move- takes shape in UP “Mere speeches will not work
O ment, Kanshi to bring change in Bahujan
society, one has to work hard
Ram, one of his stanch sup- to raise voice in their favour.
porter and the Bhim Army The emergence of Azad Samaj Party will put a
chief Chandra Shekhar Azad They should get a share in
announced formation of his strong challenge before BSP chief Mayawati to power,” he added.
Azad Samaj Party chief
new political party the Azad keep intact her following, reports mudit mathur Chandrashekhar Ravan also
Samaj Party amid presence
of thousands of support- eyeing on upcoming state as-
sembly elections in 2022. He
ers carrying blue flags in is trying to consolidate Dalit,
their hands in Basai village OBCs, Muslims under the um-
of Sector-70 in Noida. The brella of Bhagidari Sankalp
emergence of a new Dalit Morcha led by strained BJP
party would put a strong ally Suheldev Bharatiya Sa-
challenge before Bahujan maj Party chief and a former
Samaj Party chief Mayawati minister of Yogi’s cabinet, Om
to keep intact her following Prakash Rajbhar with whom
that was gradually declining he held long parleys. Rajbhar
with her extravagant life style has influence in the eastern
and arrogance. belt of Uttar Pradesh. “Rajb-
The announcement of the harji is big leader of eastern
new political party alarmed Uttar Pradesh who supported
Mayawati as the event at- me when I was in jail. We
tracted presence of her 28 talked about how to stop the
ex-MLAs and six former MPs. BJP and will take all necessary
Thousands of Bhim Army steps to prevent the BJP from
supporters and workers ers and cadres to take stock her cadre that Kanshi Ram coming back to power,” he
were present during the of the situation in the first wrote a book “Chamcha Yug” added.
announcement. The political week of April. In the anniver- wherein he cautioned poor The newly formed political
circles feel that the formation sary function of BSP founder and innocent Dalits, tribals, party aims consolidation of
new political party is a direct Kanshi Ram on 15 March, backward castes and other Dalit, Muslim and OBC (Other
challenge to BSP chief Maya- Mayawati made scathing oppressed lot of our society backward classes) but that is
wati’s leadership who until remarks pointing indirectly that they are not a saleable most difficult task in view of
now was the sole beneficiary at Chandra Shekhar Ravan. commodity. “Formation of well-established organisa-
of the Dalit votes. “Even now, people with new parties or organisations tion of Bahujan Samaj Party
Azad explained his sup- vested interests are play- will further divide their might backed by enough financial
porters that the Bhim Army ing into the hands of rival and led to rule of communal resources. BSP cadre has wit-
will continue its functions as political parties. They have forces over oppressed peo- nessed and experienced its
a social and cultural arm of nothing to do with Babasaheb ple,” she warned. Mayawati prominence during her rule
the Azad Samaj Party. Bhim Ambedkar and his move- cited examples of Naseemud- and felt empowered in the
Army will participate in the ment. Nor they have anything din Siddiqui and Indrajit Saroj administration of public ser-
protests against Citizen- to do with Manyavar Kanshi who lost elections when they vices. Mayawati undoubtedly
ship Amendment Act (CAA), Ram’s sacrifice and his mis- tried luck from other parties. inherits legacy of Bahujan
National Population Register sion,” Mayawati remarked. The newly formed Azad movement led by her mentor
(NPR) and National Register “The truth is that these Samaj Party has focused Kanshi Ram and registered
for Citizens (NRC) as before. people are only using their to target a combination of pan India political presence
Tizzy over emergence of (Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram) Dalit, Muslims and backward on the electoral map whereas
new political equations in names to serve their vested castes as its core support Chandra Shekhar Ravan has
the western parts of Uttar interests,” obviously jittery base. “The legitimate rights of yet to prove his independent
Pradesh, bastion areas of BSP chief commented in a minority community, Dalits credentials that he is not a
her dominance, BSP chief statement issued by the BSP and backward classes are political plot for other players.
Mayawati convened an central office in New Delhi. in jeopardy. Our workers
urgent meeting of her lead- Mayawati reminded want that they too should letters@tehelka.com
11