Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
HVK Archives: Mulayam dumps Dalits to woo Congress

Mulayam dumps Dalits to woo Congress - The Telegraph

Posted By Ashok V Chowgule (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
28 May 1997

Title : Mulayam dumps Dalits to woo Congress
Author :
Publication : The Telegraph
Date : May 28, 1997

The Samajwadi Party president, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, said at
Farukhabad yesterday he would scrap the controversial Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of) Atrocities Act if he
came to power in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Yadav's statement, made on the eve of Thursday's Farukhabad
Assembly byelections, is being seen as a two-pronged political
manoeuvre to woo the Uttar Pradesh Congress on the one hand, and
wean away forward caste support from the BJP on the other.

The BJP, ironically, has not reacted to Mr Yadav's statement
despite its senior leader, Mr Kalyan Singh, having reservations
about the Act. Mr Yadav has also alleged that the Bahujan Samaj
Party, an ally of the BJP, frequently misused the Act to target
Samajwadi Party workers, mostly OBCs and upper castes.

Political circles have reacted variously to W Yadav's move. The
senior Samajwadi Party ideologue, Mr Madhukar Dighe, said: "The
Samajwadi Party has a committed votebank of Yadavs and Muslims.
But the upper castes are feeling vulnerable under the BSP-BJP
regime since they have to swallow insults daily from the chief
minister, Ms Mayavati. Therefore, they are a class that can be
wooed."

Again, by offering sops to the Congress, which retains a small but
committed upper caste vote- bank, Mr Yadav is trying to ensure it
does not re-align with the BSP. This is hardly difficult given the
deterioration in relations between the parties after the BJP-BSP
coalition was forged in Uttar Pradesh.

The growing BSP-Congress divide in the state is evident from Ms
Mayavati's statement at a Farukhabad meeting that the Congress
could not be trusted since it made statements about making a Dalit
the chief minister, but did nothing to force the United Front to
support their claim. She was lobbying for the BJP candidate and
labour minister, Ms Prabha Dwivedi, at the meeting. In another
development, a section of the Congress, led by the Congress
Legislature Party leader, Mr Pramod Tiwari, is pushing for an
alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

The Congress is also backing the Samajwadi Party candidate for the
Farukhabad bypolls.

The UPCC president, Mr Jitendra Prasada, said: "For the moment, the
decision to back the Samajwadi Party is limited to the bypolls
only. But a later coming-together of secular forces is always
welcome."

For Mr Yadav, who has been going all out to make a case for the
possible dismissal of the coalition government, yesterday's
statement could prove a winner.

Senior Raj Bhavan sources said Mr Yadav had submitted to the Uttar
Pradesh Governor, Mr Romesh Bhandari, a district-wise list of party
workers booked under various acts, including NSA and the SC/ST
Atrocities Act. The list is now with the state home department for
"clarifications."

Mr Yadav has also approached the Union home ministry with a similar
list. This also has been sent to the Uttar Pradesh home department
with instructions that each case be verified and explanations given
about the arrest of every Samajwadi Party worker. Mr Yadav's
gameplan, therefore, goes hand-in-glove with his intention to
attack the state government under Ms Mayavati.

The BSP has, however, dismissed Mr Yadav's allegations that it has
misused the Act. The senior BSP leader and cooperative minister,
Mr R.K. Chaudhary, said: "Mulayam's outburst is that of a
frustrated man. Even he knows that atrocities on weaker sections
were more during his regime."

The BJP has also defended its coalition partner. The BJP MLA, Mr
Rajesh Pandey, said: "The BJP has already warned against misuse of
the Act. Moreover, Ms Mayavati has given no specific direction to
register more cases against forward castes."

Official figures, however, shows an increase in certain types of
crime against weaker sections.


Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements