Social organisation Bahujan Bharat has expressed its strong opposition to the decision of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati to remove the statues of Dalit messiah Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar and Bahujan leader and party founder Kanshi Ram from the party headquarters.
The organisation’s president and former IAS officer Kunwar Fateh Bahadur expressed regret over this decision at a meeting of office-bearers at the organisation’s headquarters.
He said that 85 per cent of the Bahujan community, which includes Dalits, backward classes and minorities, were disappointed with the removal of the statues of BSP icons from the party office.
Bahadur said that Dr Ambedkar ensured the rights of these communities in the Constitution, while Kanshi Ram founded BSP to fight for their social and political rights. “However, it is unfortunate that Mayawati, who claims to follow their ideals, has removed their statues from the party office.” He said.
He added that if Mayawati had to remove anything from the party office, it should have been her own statue.
Bahadur also criticised Mayawati’s reasoning for removing the statues, claiming that party workers visit her residence more often than the party office. He said that this claim was humorous as Mayawati’s residence was inaccessible to most people, while the party office was closed to ordinary people as well as party workers.
The organisation’s secretary, Chintamani, also criticised Mayawati’s decision, saying that it reflects her anti-Dalit mentality.
Other office-bearers present at the meeting included vice-president Nand Kishore, joint secretary Krishna Kanhaiya Pal (advocate), RR Jaiswal, Dhani Ram and Ram Sajivan.