Saffron parties go all out to propitiate Ramdas Athavale
Published: Friday, Jun 10, 2011, 1:49 IST
By Alok Deshpande | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
The BJP-RPI-Shiv Sena Maha-morcha on Thursday was supposed to be a
show of strength and was meant to take on the government over issues
of inefficiency and corruption. Instead, it ended up as an exercise in
assuring the state's Dalits of an alternative alliance that they can
vote for.
Leaders of the saffron parties heaped praises on RPI chief Ramdas
Athavale, listing all that he has done for the Dalit community. They
also reminded him of the injustice meted out to him by the Congress
and the NCP. They used the occasion to assure him that he would be
"taken care of" better than before.
Leader of the opposition and BJP leader Eknath Khadse used his entire
speech to recite a list of schemes started by the Sena-BJP government
for the benefit of Dalits, tribals and the backward classes.
"The Congress and the NCP used the RPI's votes but gave it nothing in
return. Money which was supposed to be used for various Dalit welfare
schemes was diverted elsewhere," he said.
Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, too, did his bit to put
Athavale on a pedestal. "The Congress and the NCP will now understand
your importance," he said to Athavale. "The parties consist of people
who will not hesitate to betray even their parents. They disrespected
you by backstabbing you during the Lok Sabha elections. Bheem sainiks
and Shiv sainiks will jointly teach them a lesson."
He blamed the Congress and the NCP for the long-time antagonism
between the RPI and the Sena. "They created such situations that
forced us to be on opposite sides. But this approach will no longer
work. We have to unite and work as a cohesive unit," said Thackeray.
Athavale, in his trademark poetic style, sent out a message to the
Congress and the NCP that he had joined hands with the Sena to avenge
the wrongs done to him by his earlier partners. "This alliance is not
only for electoral gains, but it's a process of social integration.
After my meeting with the Sena chief, all my doubts about the party
were cleared. We are sure that our flags will fly high on the state
assembly after the 2014 elections," he said.
Refuting claims that he does not enjoy the support of the entire Dalit
community, he said that the support he has is enough to change the
government.
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