Bijnor's voters are waking up from Maya's spell
Sumati MehrishiFirst Published : 22 Apr 2010 11:11:00 PM ISTLast
Updated : 22 Apr 2010 12:47:39 AM IST
He is immensely sarcastic while cracking caste-based jokes. But
advocate Nizamuddin Ansari's jibes do not see his friend Satish
Kumar's laughter fading. Instead Kumar, a Samajwadi Party loyalist
laughs louder when he sees Ansari sneering at Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Mayawati.
Kumar and Ansari, are Dalits. Ansari, a well-known figure in the
political circles of Bijnor, west Uttar Pradesh, believes Muslim
Dalits have been 'total fools' for supporting the Bahujan Samaj Party
chief over the decades. He says, "Mayawati has taken Muslim Dalits for
a ride. In the 1980s, she said she would mother a Muslim child. They
believed her. They have supported Mayawati over the years thinking she
will help them. But they are way behind Hindu Dalits in terms of
education, job opportunities and healthcare. Today, my friend Satish
Kumar looks happier, all thanks to Mayawati."
Bijnor is where Mayawati emerged a winner in the 1989 elections
despite a Janata Dal wave and a seasoned rival, Mangal Ram Premi. But
today, people in Bijnor are losing their sense of humour looking at
Mayawati's weakness for memorials and malas.
Bijnor 'born'
Mayawati had shared food and mingled with 'her own people' — two
decades ago — during her visits in 1989. Javed Aftab, ex-chairman of
Bijnor municipality says, "She was coaxed into campaigning in Bijnor
by a sincere bunch of party workers. She would take rides on bicycles
and share food with people. BSP rallies in Bijnor have always been a
great success."
Today, as Chennai and other places in the south gradually see the
Bahujan Samaj Party become more popular, (through events like the
Samajik Bhaichara Banaao Sammelan which the BSP held in Chennai prior
to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections) Bijnor is keen to know if Mayawati's
magic will work in south India.
Vote, support and neglect
Muslims today account for 45-46 per cent of Bijnor's population (it
was 42 per cent in the 2001 census). With the Supreme Court upholding
the validity of four per cent reservation for backward members of the
Muslim community in Andhra Pradesh, the expectations of people in
Bijnor too have been rekindled.
They expect reservation for Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. Will Mayawati's
association with Bijnor help? Ansari who heads the All India Pasmanda
Front (an organisation of backward Muslims) says, "No. Mayawati has
forgotten Bijnor". He adds, "Mayawati was barely seen in Bijnor after
her campaign and victory in the 1989 elections. Bijnor ka aadmi apne
aap ko tthagaa hua mehsoos karta hai (people in Bijnor feel duped).
The backward Muslims have been denied Scheduled Caste status. Mayawati
could at least have kicked some change from Bijnor."
Congress veteran and former MLA Babu Kranti Kumar, son of freedom
fighter Govind Sahay says, "The BSP got the Muslim vote without doing
anything for the community. Mayawati's old trick of fielding Muslim
candidates in elections, plus her anti-Hindu upper class speeches won
her the favour of Muslims over the years. Bijnor is one of the 60
districts named in the Sachar Committee report. But the party has done
nothing to reform them or the district. It has failed to maintain
contact with farmers and 'Harijans'."
Political churning
For beginners, Bijnor is not a pocket borough, as Amethi is for the
Congress. Nor is it a win-win wonder like Lucknow for the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) and Chennai Central for the Dravida Munnettra
Kazhagam (DMK). It has been vulnerable to the tectonic shifts in the
Indian political scenario from time to time owing to people's
political awareness and the caste distribution. BSP has made the most
of both.
The year 1990 is remembered as the most 'unfortunate' year by people
in Bijnor. Two years before the Babri Masjid demolition related
clashes had rocked India, Bijnor faced a long, emotionally draining
communal riot. In 1991 the BJP had swung into action with Bijnor's Ram
Lila grounds seeing a maddening welcome to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The
Congress fans of the 1950s and 1960s and the Janata Dal supporters of
the 1970s and 1980s had switched their support and sentiment to the
BJP.
Bijnor saw a dip in Mayawati's popularity in the 1991 mid-term polls
and the late 1990s — when the BJP surged for the second time. Vikas
Agarwal, chief secretary, Bijnor BJP says, "The BJP has been able to
break the bond created by Mayawati between the Dalits and the Muslims
to some extent by dividing the Muslim vote."
Unabashedly backward
The BSP rules all seven state Assembly seats (Bijnor, Chandpur,
Dhampur, Nagina, Najibabad, Afzalgarh, Seohara); it won them in 2007.
This has earned Bijnor 'VIP district status'. People refer to it as
the 'headquarters' of the BSP. Yet the 'VIP district status' is more
of a teaser. But for a few developmental tweaking here and there,
Bijnor has continued to 'look and remain backward'.
Kranti Kumar adds, "The enthusiasm in BSP rallies is dipping. People
in the rural areas have never seen the tube wells they were promised.
Irrigation is ailing. The roads are in a bad state. Funds for various
programmes of the central government are being misused."
There's the spruced up Noida — part of Mayawati's Uttar Pradesh and
the venue for BSP's memorials on one side of Bijnor. It's a hub of
industry, educational institutions and opportunities. On the other
side, connected to Haridwar, the power dressed venue for the Mahakumbh
which concluded recently, Bijnor looks pathetic and neglected —
infested by flies, unwashed and uncared for.
Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, a social activist from the Qazi Pahara area says
that "the situation is getting worse by the day. There is a permanent
stench on the streets. There are barely any good doctors at the
government hospitals for heart disease. People prefer travelling all
the way to Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for treatment and emergencies. The
few policies implemented here in education for minorities and backward
classes are all central government policies."
Why hasn't Bijnor's VIP district status helped? Javed Aftab (BSP)
ex-chairman, Bijnor municipality defends the party and its reforms. He
says, "It's wrong to say that the BSP hasn't developed Bijnor. The
roads have been upgraded. Pockets like Sherkot and Afzalgarh have seen
noticeable development owing to the commitment of the MLAs. BSP is a
disciplined party. Not all MLAs ask for funds from Mayawati at the
drop of a hat."
Rahul Singh, Rashtriya Lok Dal's Bijnor president differs. He says,
"Block pramukhs (heads) in villages around Bijnor complain about not
getting enough funds from the higher rung in BSP. Each MLA in Bijnor
is believed to have been given 10 crores rupees for development and
other policies. Where does the question of not asking for funds owing
to intra-party discipline arise? The seven Vidhan Sabha seats ruled by
the BSP are all about corruption and misuse of funds."
Very Illusive Power
At Sadar Baazar, the shopkeepers sweat. Feroz (name changed), 50,
carefully taps over three lamp chimneys before choosing one. He says,
"It is odd. It's 2010 and we are still using kerosene lamps." It's the
beginning of the summer season — when Bijnor sees numerous power cuts
extending the regular fixed timings (4/5 am to 11 am and 4/5pm to
8/10pm).
BSP's opponents are preparing to grab the issue for the panchayat
elections to be held in September, especially the BJP. Mahendra Singh
Dhanoria, BJP, says, "I wonder why people in Bijnor should pay for
electricity, especially after the recent hike in charges. I suggest
Mayawati deprive us of whatever little we are being given on this
front. Let Bijnor return to lanterns."
MP Sanjay Singh Chauhan seconds the disappointment. He says, "The BSP,
prior to the Lok Sabha elections, was talking big — like providing
electricity round the clock. That was a farce. Recently, I conducted
an inspection and found that the power situation is dismal in villages
around Bijnor. Chandpur is one of them. Units in the industrial area
around Chandpur are suffering due to frequent power cuts."
Bitter sugar
Hiding his flu infected eyes behind his shaded glasses DM Raja Mouli
is occupied in fire-fighting. It's a grim April. He is helping cane
farmers wind up the crushing of their crop at the local mills 'on
sustainable prices'. The mills have been crushing cane at the jacked
up price of Rs 260 per quintal (the state advised price SAP is Rs 165
per quintal). With the decline in international prices, the mills are
ailing and owe money to farmers. "Sugar prices have come down and
farmers are feeling the heat. We hope to reach a decision on this
problem soon," says Raja Mouli.
Dharamvir, president, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Sangathan, Bijnor,
also a Congress veteran says, "Sugar mills in Bijnor are ailing. The
rest are shifting to neighbouring towns. Irrigation is in a bad state
and the yield has suffered. Cane growers are the real depressed lot
and the government is failing to help them."
The heat is rising. Mayawati's opponents are working overtime in the
hope of miracles in the 2011 Assembly elections. Also, there is
something special about people in Bijnor. Their sentiments shift too
quickly for change. Bhuna besan pera (a sweet) is losing popularity
and so is Dushahri, the mango variety — for things that taste better.
The BSP may be the next.
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