BSP plans dalit chaupals to expose' BJP

Lucknow: Unnerved by the BJP’s increasing dalit outreach, the Bahujan Samaj Party, for the first time, will be holding chaupals in dalit-populated villages in Uttar Pradesh. These chaupals will be held from June and all district and divisional coordinators, along with party leaders, will attend these events.

In these chaupals, the BSP plans to “expose” the pro-dalit posture of the BJP. BSP leaders have been asked to ensure the presence of youths in these chaupals.

“We will tell our people that the BJP’s pro-dalit posture is a farce and designed only for electoral gains. BJP leaders are making a show of sharing meals with dalits in their homes but the food is brought from outside because the BJP leaders do not want to eat the meal prepared by dalits,” said a party functionary.

The BSP coordinators have been asked to keep a close watch on the BJP’s “Samajik Samrasta Bhoj” programmes and draw up a list of events where food and crockery have been brought in from outside. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his ministers and senior party leaders are participating in this programme.

The BSP wants to convey a clear message that while parties like the BJP are making pro-dalit statements only with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it is the BSP alone that is genuinely concerned about the welfare of dalits.

“We have drawn up a list of atrocities on dalits — from the killing of a dalit student in Allahabad to forcing a dalit man to drink urine in Badaun and the violence against Dalits in Saharanpur last year — and we will tell our people how atrocities on dalits have increased sharply in the BJP regime,” the functionary said.