Dalit vote bank, how the Dalit icon has become a big poll plank in poll-bound state
Speaking at a public rally at Siwan in poll-bound Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for “insulting” BR Ambedkar.
“Ambedkar was against dynasty rule. But they (RJD and its allies) do not like it, so they have his portrait placed at their feet. On my way, I saw posters demanding an apology for this insult to Babasaheb.
“But there has been no apology. This is because they hold Dalits in contempt. In contrast, Modi has Babasaheb in his heart and would like to keep his portrait close to his chest,” the PM said.
A couple of hours later the RJD released a video taking swipes at PM Modi and his Bihar ally—JD-U’s Nitish Kumar.
Hosting AI lookalikes and footage from PM Modi’s public events, the video featured a poor man holding an umbrella with a song with words like ‘jumlo ki baarish’. The video showed AI-generated Nitish Kumar and PM dancing together while Bihar crumbled and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav helping the common people.
“Weather warning in the interest of Bihar- today, there will be heavy rain of lies, false promises and illusions in Bihar, hailstones of false and tempting promises along with thunder, be careful,” Lalu Yadav also posted in Hindi.
According to RJD, the controversy was all due to a “camera angle” while the birthday celebration was going on. Lalu Yadav’s feet were on a sofa because of medical advice and a party supporter stood close carrying Ambedkar’s portrait
The BJP-led NDA is making a big hue and cry on this issue regarding Ambedkar—whose relevance to Bihar lies in his advocacy for social justice and equality, particularly for marginalised communities like Dalits
Analysts say that his philosophy and constitutional principles continue to be relevant in addressing issues of caste discrimination, social inequality, and empowerment of the oppressed in Bihar where Dalits have faced a long history of discrimination, social exclusion, and economic exploitation.
According to the 2011 Census, the Dalits constitute 16% of the population of Bihar, and 21 out of 23 Dalit castes are categorised as Mahadalits, which identify the most underprivileged among the class.
