Lucknow, March 14 (NationPress) Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), fiercely criticized the Congress party on Saturday for its proposal to award the Bharat Ratna to the esteemed Bahujan figure Kanshi Ram. She accused Congress of trying to manipulate his legacy while maintaining a historically anti-Dalit stance.

This criticism followed remarks by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who stated that if Jawaharlal Nehru were alive, Kanshi Ram would have served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi made this statement during the ‘Samajik Parivartan Divas (Social Change Day)' event at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow, commemorating Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary.

At the event, a resolution was passed calling for Kanshi Ram to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor.

In a robust response, Mayawati questioned the sincerity of the Congress party's intentions, recalling its lack of acknowledgment for Dalit leaders in the past.

“Historically, the Congress Party, during its extensive time in power, never provided the respect and honor due to the messiah of Dalits and the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, and it did not bestow upon him the Bharat Ratna. How can they now propose to honor the esteemed Shri Kanshi Ram Ji?” she remarked.

Additionally, Mayawati claimed that the Congress failed to pay adequate tribute following Kanshi Ram’s passing.

“This is the same Congress Party that, while in power, did not declare a single day of national mourning for the respected Shri Kanshi Ram Ji, nor did the SP government in Uttar Pradesh at that time observe any state mourning,” she added.

She asserted that various organizations and political groups linked to the Dalit community are being co-opted by other parties, misusing Kanshi Ram’s legacy for their political benefit.

“Numerous organizations and parties created by the Dalit community have fallen under the sway of other political entities, constantly exploiting his name for their gain,” she stated.

Mayawati further accused rival parties of attempting to undermine the BSP, which was founded by Kanshi Ram.

“These parties are relentlessly employing various strategies to diminish the influence of the BSP, established by the respected Shri Kanshi Ram Ji. Therefore, his followers and supporters must remain vigilant against such tactics. They should especially be cautious of the Congress Party, which is precisely why the BSP was formed—to counter its anti-Dalit mindset,” she emphasized.

Mayawati called on party members to engage actively in events that celebrate Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary and fortify the BSP’s presence.

“On the occasion of the respected Shri Kanshi Ram Ji’s birthday tomorrow, March 15, 2026, party members must ensure the success of all BSP programs across the nation, including in Uttar Pradesh,” she concluded.