In an all out attempt to woo the Dalit votebank in UP, the Congress has now planned a feast for the community across the state on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on Saturday.
Earlier, the party had launched 'Bheem Jyoti Rath Yatra' to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkhar in UP.
The Bheem Yatra was falled offby Dalit leader and Rajya Sabha member Pl Punia on Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary last year. It covered all Dalit-dominated areas in every district of the state in three phases and the party distributed pamphlets, booklets, handouts and speeches, to make the community aware that the Congress has done the most for them.
Talking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Vice-chairman of UP Congress Media Committee Maroof Khan alleged that the ruling SP was totally anti-Dalit, while the BSP was only shedding crocodile tears for the community. He also blamed the BJP for adopting double standards on the Dalit issue.
Khan claimed that his party had worked for Dalit upliftment and always stood behind them during their hours of need.
Khan infofmed that his party would organise a `Community Feast’ for Dalits in all the districts of the state.
Aheadof 2012 Assembly polls too, the Congress had tried to woo Dalits in a similar manner. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi had started statewide ‘Chetna yatras’ from Ambedkar Nagar district on Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14) in 2010. While those yatras covered all Assembly segments, the Bheem Jyoti Yatra last year also focussed on Dalit-dominated areas in every district.
There are 85 reserved constituencies in the state. In the last Assembly polls, Congress could win only four seats — Hapur, Khurja, Jagdishpur in Amethi and Raath in Bundelkhand. Another seat, Duddhi, was won by an Independent candidate — Rubi Prasad — who had the backing of the Congress.
Rubi Prasad later switched loyalties to the ruling Samajwadi Party. Besdies, three Reserved constituencies in western UP were won by Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) which was Congress’ alliance partner then.