In what should worry both ruling BJP and Opposition Congress in the state in the year of Assembly elections, a massive show of strength by the dalit organization Bhim Army on the issue of caste-based reservation came in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal on Sunday.
The huge protest gathering – pressing for the fulfilment of 15-point demands including caste-based census, law for quota in promotion, inclusion of increased reservation in ninth schedule and stopping of atrocities against dalits, tribal, OBCs and minorities, had the support of a faction of tribal organization Jay Adiwasi Yuva Sangathan (JAYS) and the OBC Mahasabha.
Both BJP and Congress have been trying to woo the tribal and dalit voters in the state – who form a crucial chunk when it comes to bringing a party to power. Several promises are being made by both parties and the ruling BJP has announced several welfare measures; has started honouring the local heroes and idols of both communities.
OBCs, considered traditional voters of BJP in Madhya Pradesh, have also started to rise as a separate socio-political force in the state for the first time, especially on the issue of caste-based quota and OBC Mahasabha has been talking about contesting polls on its own. Political watchers feel that coming together of the organizations representing tribals, dalits, and OBCs might create a big impact on the voting pattern in the state and the major political parties should take the phenomenon seriously.
The Sunday event in BHEL Dussehra Maidan of Bhopal, organised under the joint banner of Azad Samaj Party – the political outfit of Bhim Army and the Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission – saw the presence of almost two lakh people, according to sources. State president of Azad Samaj Party Sunil Astey made a claim of 5 lakh gathering. The event marked the conclusion of a ‘Nyay Yatra’ (rally for justice) by the Azad Samaj Party.
Bhim Army chief and national president of Azad Samaj Party, Chandra Shekhar Azad, said that at least five similar rallies will be held in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the Assembly polls later this year. He said that each such protest gathering will have double the attendance, giving a deadline of a month for the fulfilment of demands.
“We are fed up with announcements like the construction of Sant Ravidas temple. Our next step will be for political power. Dalits, tribals, and OBCs will fight next Assembly polls. There will be a rule of the constitution of India and the entire bahujan community will work together for this,” he said.
Azad also said that OBCs, who are 52 per cent of the population, should be given an equivalent quota and not just 27 per cent. He called for the retraction of criminal cases against dalit activists in context of the April 2, 2018 agitation in Gwalior. He spoke of conspiracy to end reservation through privatization, to remove the words socialist and secular from the preamble of the constitution. He also spoke about demands like regularization of contract employees, reinstatement of the old pension scheme, Rs 1 crore compensation and government job for dependents of sanitation workers killed in line of duty.
OBC leaders Preetam Lodhi, who was expelled by BJP for his comments against the Brahmin community, national core committee member of OBC Mahasabha Dharmendra Kushwaha, whistleblower Dr. Anand Rai, who is a JAYS supporter and other JAYS activists were present at the event.
National president of Bhim Army Ekta Mission Vinay Ratan Singh and Edwin Bharatiya Shudra of Vision of Baba Saheb Welfare Association were also present along with lakhs of youth, including several elected panchayat representatives.
