At a time when crores of Hindus are expected to gather and take the holy dip in the Ganges river at Prayagraj, the Ultra-Hindutva party BJP has found a unique way of Dalit outreach.
The saffron party also aims to counter “Save The Constitution” campaign of the Congress Party.
The BJP has distributed copies of the Indian Constitution to sanitation workers under its “Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan” at the Maha Kumbh 2025.
The party has launched the campaign to celebrate 75 years of the Indian Constitution by honouring Dalits across the state of Uttar Pradesh.
BJP Distributes Copies Of Constitution Among Dalits
Explaining the strategy of the party, Uttar Pradesh BJP Secretary Abhijat Mishra said, “We came here to honour those who had been reduced to mere vote bank by non-BJP parties and governments. Now, with a strong, sensitive leader helming the nation, the change is evident.”
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He also alleged that while other parties view Dalits and OBCs as vote banks, the BJP respects them. He claimed that the distribution of Constitution copies will reinforce the unity of Hindus.
The BJP strategy to woo the Dalits became evident when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Prayagraj before the Maha Kumbh 2025 begun. He called it “Ekta ka Mahakumbh”, or a grand gathering of unity.
PM Modi: ‘Ekta Ka Mahakumbh’
Earlier, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called Maha Kumbh 2025 “Samajik Samta Ka Mahaparv”, highlighting social equality.
Besides, the UP government installed a large statue of Lord Ram and Nishad Raj at Nishad Raj Park in Shringverpur.
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It is significant to note that the saffron party has tried to woo Nishads, a politically significant riverine OBC community seeking inclusion in SC category.
Earlier in Kumbh Mela 2019, PM Modi washed the feet of sanitation workers.
Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Statue Installed
A controversy erupted last week when the Mulayam Singh Yadav Smriti Seva Sansthan, installed a three-feet tall statue of the deceased Samajwadi Party leader in Sector 16 of the Maha Kumbh Mela area.
Justifying the move, Mahant Ravindra Puri said that Mulayam Singh Yadav was a great leader and his statue has been installed to inspire the people and spread his thoughts.
He invited the pilgrims and other people to visit the camp, have food, and stay there.
SP leader and Mulayam Singh’s son Akhilesh Yadav is tight-lipped over the incident, though he took a bath in the Ganges.
Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad Criticises Mualayam
Slamming the SP, Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad President Puri claimed that Mulayam Singh’s statue had been installed to show seers that he had “killed” people from the Hindu community.
Supporting Puri, Juna Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Yati Narsinghanand said that it is appropriate for the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad to condemn the move.
Congress Campaign On Constitution
The BJP move is seen as a move to counter the Congress campaign titled “Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan” on January 27.
The grand old party launched the campaign after Home Minister Amit Shah, while participating in the debate to mark 75 years of the Constitution, allegedly insulted BR Ambedkar.
Trying to drive home the point that taking Ambedkar’s name has become a fashion, he said, “Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata.
It means: “It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. If they took God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven.”
Political observers see BJP’s Dalit outreach as a damage control exercise.
‘Shahi Snan’ For Dalit Saints
Valmiki Sadhu Akhara has taken a big step in the direction of outreach by organising a camp, especially for Dalit saints in the Kumbh Mela area.
The akhara held a meeting at its Valmiki temple in New Delhi and decided to make special arrangements for “shahi snan” of the saints from the community.
The Dalit Akhara was established at Kumbh Mela in 2019 and it was later renamed as Valmiki Sadhu Akhara.
The Juna Akhara has also announced to bestow the title of Saint or Sadhu on 307 Dalits in the Maha Kumbh 2025.
