Published: April 10, 2010 20:43 IST | Updated: April 11, 2010 01:30
IST LUCKNOW, April 10, 2010
BSP to expose Congress's "anti-Dalit" stand
Special Correspondent
Posters brought out by the BSP and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
Photo: Special Arrangement
Pushed on the back foot by the Congress Party's bid to regain its
Dalit support base in Uttar Pradesh with the launch of the "Congress
yatra 2010" from Ambedkar Nagar on April 14, the birth anniversary of
Bhimrao Ambedkar, a tense ruling Bahujan Samaj Party is now trying to
"expose" its political adversary's concern for Dalits.
As the Congress yatra is set to be flagged off by the party general
secretary, Rahul Gandhi, battle lines have been drawn between the two
with Dr. Ambedkar and Ambedkar Nagar (Akbarpur) emerging as symbols of
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati's efforts to consolidate her
Dalit vote bank and the Congress' bid to woo them. Apart from
celebrating Dr. Ambedkar's birth anniversary, the BSP would stage a
State-wide dharna and demonstration on April 14 against the Women's
Reservation Bill.
On Saturday, the ruling party officially released three posters of the
BSP and the Congress related to April 14. While the BSP poster carries
Ms. Mayawati's picture and that of the Dalit icons, including Dr.
Ambedkar, Mr. Gandhi's portrait dominates the space in the Congress
poster with lesser space given to Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and
Congress president, Sonia Gandhi. This Congress poster, however, does
not carry the pictures of Dr. Ambedkar, or any other Dalit leader.
Describing the Congress as 'anti-Dalit,' he State unit president of
BSP, Swami Prasad Maurya said here on Saturday that the Congress was
responsible for the extreme poverty and deprivation amongst the
Dalits. Referring to the Congress poster, Mr. Maurya slammed the party
for ignoring Dr. Ambedkar. "It only shows that there has been no
change in the Congress Party's attitude towards Dr. Ambedkar", the UP
BSP chief said.
On the new Congress poster, Mr. Maurya said it was attempt to gloss
over its mistake and was an insult to Dr. Ambedkar. He said Dr.
Ambedkar had advised his supporters to stay away from the Congress.
In fact, the absence of Dr. Ambedkar's picture in the Congress poster,
which was put up in Ambedkar Nagar, was made an issue by the local
unit of BSP last week in a bid to expose the Congress' "Dalit-prem" (
love for Dalits). The posters were hastily withdrawn by the Congress.
The new posters and hoardings now installed in Ambedkar Nagar and at
the UP Congress headquarters in Lucknow show Dr. Ambedkar and former
Defence Minister and once the Dalit face of the Congress, Jagjivan
Ram, along with those of Mr. Gandhi and other party leaders.
When contacted the Congress yatra in charge and Faizabad MP, Nirmal
Khatri, said that the posters sans Dr. Ambedkar were put up by some
enthusiastic party supporters. " The Congress has great respect for
Dr. Ambedkar and other Dalit leaders", Mr. Khatri told The Hindu from
Ambedkar Nagar.
10 yatras
Ten Congress yatras would be flagged off by the Amethi MP from
Ambedkar Nagar on April 14 where Mr. Gandhi will also address a public
meeting at the ground next to the airstrip. "The 10 yatras, which
would be coordinated by senior leaders, including MPs, will touch all
the 430 Assembly segments in the 18 divisions of Uttar Pradesh", said
the UP Congress spokesman, Dwijendra Tripathi.
The first phase of the yatra would end on May 31, 2010. The second
phase of the Congress campaign is tentatively scheduled to commence on
September 15 and end on November 10 in Allahabad with Ms.Gandhi
scheduled to address the concluding function.
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