Continuing with its tirade to bring Dalits into the party fold, BJP president Amit Shah will address a Swabhiman Maha Sammelan at the Bhim Rao Ambedkar University auditorium in lucknow on Saturday.
The function which will be attended by the members of SC / ST Cell.
State BJP secretary Virendra Tiwari said that apart from Shah and party State chief Keshav Prasad Maurya, senior leaders belonging to SC/ST caste would attend the Maha Sammelan. “law makers of SC / ST have also been invited to the rally. Dalits belonging to Pasi, Kori, Dhanuk castes would attend this Sammelan," he said.
The BJP is trying hard to wean away Dalits from the BSP and bring them to the partyfold. Earlier this week, Shah had broken bread with Dalits and Backwards in Allahabad, drawing sharp reaction from Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP president Mayawati.
Tiwari however said that Dalits have always been a big support group for the BJP. “In the last lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 71 seats only because the community voted en block for the party. In the same election Mayawati’s BSP drew blank, which is a clear indication that Dalits are no longer with the BSP,” he said.
The BJP leader said that BSP has always used Dalits as a mere vote bank while in the BJP they are treated as equals. "This Sammelan would talk about their Swabhiman. Now, Dalits also know that only the BJP can protect their interest," he said.
On the other hand, the BSP and the Samajwadi Party leadership has called Amit Shah’s attempt to lure Dalits a political drama.