Eye on dalit vote, Amit Shah takes holy dip in Ujjain

In what was seen by many as taking the BJP’s dalit outreach further ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, party president Amit Shah on Wednesday took a holy dip in the Kshipra river at the ongoing Simhasta in Ujjain.

However, it was at Valmiki Ghat and not the main ghat at Kshipra, Ramghat, where Mr Shah, flanked by saints and heads of akharas, including the Valmiki Akhara, performed the “pavitra snaan (purifying bath)”. It was almost a last-minute change of venue after some saints and a section within the RSS protested that “samrasta (harmony) snaan” with dalits at the earlier venue would send the wrong message — that dalits were otherwise being restricted at Ram Ghat.

However, those associated with the Valmiki Dham claimed there was some confusion earlier regarding the venue of the “samrasta snaan” and refuted allegations that it was part of the BJP’s strategy to woo dalits and backward castes. But a Sangh Parivar affiliate had earlier claimed that Mr Shah would march from Valmiki Dham to Ramghat with saints and then perform the “snaan”.

In his brief address to the followers of Valmiki Dham, flanked by saints and akhara pramukhs, Mr Shah said his party and the Modi government were working towards strengthening and taking forward India’s tradition and culture. He, however, mentioned that no dalit icon or dalit saint in his under-10-minute speech. He also hailed the Sanatan Dharam and reminded that Thursday was also Shankaracharya Jayanti.

Earlier, Valmiki Dham pramukh Balyogi Umesh Maharaj, while speaking on social harmony, urged political leaders and saints to work towards building a casteless society and national unity. With Mr Shah sitting beside him, the Valmiki Dham pramukh said it is only through action and work, and not mere words, that one can help create social harmony. He also hailed Mr Shah for choosing Valmiki Dham for the samrasta snaan. Interestingly, controversial saffron sanyasin Sadhvi Prachi, who was recently disowned by the Sangh Parivar affiliate VHP, was also present on the dais at Valmiki Dham. When asked about the controversy regarding the samrasta snaan venue, one of the sadhus from Gwalior, Operation Baba, dismissed it, saying one should not see politics everywhere.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh also addressed the gathering where posters of dalit icons, including Bhimrao Ambedkar, Sant Ravidas, Valmiki and Kabir were put up. Later, a “samrasta bhoj” was also organised at a different venue, “Deendayal Parisar”, for the saints and akhara pramukhs, and Mr Chouhan and his wife were seen serving them. Many senior leaders, including MPs from the state and also BJP national general secretaries Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Kailash Vijayvargiya, were also present at the events. Mr Shah later worshipped at Mahakaal Temple.