BJP Critiques Akhilesh Yadav for Insulting Dalit Leader Kanshi Ram

Synopsis
The BJP has criticized Akhilesh Yadav for allegedly mocking Kanshi Ram, the founder of BSP, and insulting the Dalit community. This comes after Yadav's comments about the historical support for Ram's political career, raising tensions between the parties.
Key Takeaways
- BJP condemns Akhilesh Yadav's remarks on Kanshi Ram.
- Amit Malviya accuses Yadav of insulting multiple communities.
- Kanshi Ram significantly impacted Dalit rights and politics.
- SP-BSP alliance was pivotal in 1991 elections.
- The historical context of Dalit politics is crucial for understanding current dynamics.
New Delhi, April 13 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav for purportedly mocking Kanshi Ram, the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and for 'insulting' the Dalit community.
BJP's IT Cell head Amit Malviya took to the social media platform X to share a video of Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of belittling Kanshi Ram to uplift the legacy of Mulayam Singh Yadav, the SP founder.
Amit Malviya stated, 'Akhilesh Yadav has previously insulted the Kshatriya community by backing a statement from an SP MP who labeled Rana Sanga a traitor. Now, he is ridiculing the Dalit community's leader, Kanshi Ram, merely to diminish his stature compared to Mulayam Singh.'
He further commented, 'It appears you are now detecting unpleasantness from all segments of Hindu society. There is no remedy for this ailment termed 'secularism.'
Kanshi Ram, who established the BSP in 1984, devoted his life to advocating for the rights of Dalits and marginalized groups. His political journey faced numerous challenges before he gained broader acknowledgment.
The controversy ignited when Akhilesh Yadav, during a recent event, stated, 'While this is history, it is also true that if anyone had facilitated the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party to enter the Lok Sabha, it was the voters here who assisted him in achieving that. He could not secure a victory elsewhere.'
'Historically, it is noted that at that juncture, it was Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) and the socialist individuals who aided the party's founder, Kanshi Ram, to reach the Lok Sabha,' he added.
Kanshi Ram made his inaugural entry into the Lok Sabha in 1991 from Etawah under the SP-BSP alliance, which strategically benefited from the Samajwadi Party's decision not to field a candidate in Jaswantnagar.
This alliance represented a significant shift in Uttar Pradesh politics, consolidating backward castes and Dalits against the growing influence of the BJP.
However, the partnership disintegrated following the notorious 1995 guest house incident, where SP members allegedly attacked Mayawati.
Regardless of the fallout, Kanshi Ram's victory in 1991 solidified his political legacy and positioned the BSP as a national political entity.