In Maya's Dalit land, SP looks 'backward' for a foothold
Sanjay Singh Posted online: Friday , Apr 23, 2010 at 0217 hrs
Lucknow : As the Congress eyes the BSP's Dalit votebank, the Samajwadi
Party tries to find its own among the Most Backward Castes (MBC) —
Nishad, Bind, Mallah, Manjhi, Pal, Prajapati and Gareri.
The party wants to unite them under its banner, promising them a share
in political power with the OBCs. The SP has already demanded the
inclusion of at least 16 such castes in the SC category.
Party leaders feel it is the right time to politically target these
castes. "Under the current regime, we see a discontentment among
them," said a leader.
"The idea is to create awareness among them about their importance in
state politics. If united, they can be good weapon to counter the
Dalits."
Leaders use the Maya's government's special focus on Dalits to win
over these castes. "We tell them how many people of their castes have
got jobs under the Maya rule in comparison with the Dalits," another
leader said.
Confirming the move to woo MBCs, party spokesperson Rajendra Choudhari
said separate conferences of these caste groups have been held in the
state. "We want them to join mainstream politics. They need social
justice," Choudhari said. The desperation in the SP camp to unite the
MBC and OBC groups is evident from its plan to organise "Pichhra
Sammelan" in the state. The conference of backward castes was held in
Kanpur on April 20, Choudhari said. Moreover, party chief Mulayam
Singh Yadav had also attended the conference of Saini castes organised
in Saharanpur on April 6.
On April 25, Mulayam has been invited as a chief guest at "Prantiya
Pichhra Varga Sammelan" — to be organised by Uttar Pradesh Pichhra
Varg Sangh in Ravindralaya in Lucknow.
"The party is not directly involved in this conference. But I have
seen hoardings displaying the name of Netaji as chief guest on this
occasion," said Choudhari.
Former minister Om Prakash Singh, the general secretary of the party's
state unit, however, said there is nothing new in party's efforts to
ensure social justice for these castes. "We want to see them to share
political power. We have already demanded proper census of these
castes at the national level," Singh said.
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