LUCKNOW: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo, Kanshi Ram, Sept. 17th, diverted his attack from the BJP to the Congress by accusing one of the greatest party leaders Ma Dalits of their “legitimate rights. ‘Addressing the “at masamman” (self-respect) rally on the 117th birth ant versary of Periyar E.V. Ramaswami Naicker, here Sunday, Kanshi Ram called Mahatma Gandhi a “Gujrati bbania,” who swallowed the Dalitrights instead of food while on fast in 1931.

“It was because of Mahatma Gandhi that Periyar had to leave the Congress, Isn’t it an irony that the same Congress is now advocating the cause of the Dalits merely to get votes?” he asked.

Both Kanshi Ram and Chief Minister Mayawati stayed clear of naming the BJP as their enemy. None of the speakers used derogatory remarks for Ram, Sitaorany other deity. Periyar’s literature with un respectful references 10 various deities, too, was withheld, apparently because large sections of the audience were avowed Periyar devotees.

The BSP leaders had reserved all their vitriol for Mahatma Gandhi. Kanshi Ram accused him of ignoring the cause of the Dalits and working against their interests. “Gandhi deprived Dalits of whatever little rights were granted to them by the then British rulers in 193132,” he said,

Ms. Mayawati said that she would not succumb to pressure from any political party, including the BJP, 10 compromise with the principles of the BSP, “I implement policies of my party and not the BJP’s. If the BJP ‘wanted to withdraw support, it was free to do so.”

The Chief Minister said, “I attach more importance to birth anniversaries for my source of inspiration than the Government functioning.” She said being the Chief Minister, she had to organize 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi.

“Gandhi is not remembered by people, but by the Government only, If the Government, (00, does not celebrate his anniversary, what will happen to him?” she asked,

Drawing a parallel between Mahatma Gandhi and Pariyar, Ram said both were banias, but had different Jeanings. While the former wanted a mere change in the government, the letter wanted a change in the social order. That is why Gandhi opposed Pariyar tooth and nail and he had to resign as State Congress president in 1924, said the BSP chief.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 22, 1995