By – Dr. Kumar . R
After the death of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar popularly known as Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar in the globe, no Dalit political leader could match his caliber and scholarship. Ms Mayawati after the death of Kanshi Ram could not sustain her image as a powerful, honest and dedicated national Dalit leader in India. At personal level, Mayawati become the greediest woman Dalit politician in India who has immense love for amassing unrestrained wealth which she may or may not live to use in the remaining days of her life. And at the national level, Mayawati is known to be an undependable politician who can turn her back at any moment for the sake of her own vested interests. Additionally, those who left Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) further caused irreparable damage to the party base. The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) has been using all BJP Dalit leaders to tarnish the image of Mayawati by all available means.
Her party stopped organizing national level political rallies or demonstrations. She is confined to television statements which does not at all attract the Dalits who want that Mayawati should lead national rallies or mass marches. The majority of the Dalits are used to active politics since the legacy Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar had left was full of active politics to gain their rights. For example, Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar in his fight against the atrocities of Brahmins himself led several powerful agitations to gain entry to the Kalaram temple. He was always the winner.
Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar was fighting inside the parliament as well outside for gaining Reservation for the Dalits. At that time, Indian Media was highly prejudiced to Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar. When Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar found that Indian media does not publish his perspective on Dalit issues he launched Mooknayak( the leader of voiceless) fortnightly newspaper in Marathi to raise his voice. Despite paucity of funds Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar managed to reach to the Dalit masses with the help of his fortnightly.
Mayawati proudly claims she is a follower of Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar but she did not learn anything from the rich legacy of active populism that Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar followed and practiced throughout his life. Indian media run by the elite Brahmins would never cooperate today or in future. They have their own agenda. Brahmin media houses show Dalit`s vulnerability to the atrocities of Brahmins who kill them mercilessly. In that case, Mayawati could have started her own newspaper to raise the voice of the Dalits. This is where Mayawati lacks capability and vision.
At national level, sometimes, she is seen sharing the dais with the Congress President Sonia Gandhi; sometime she condemns Priyanka Gandhi`s for not paying heed to the Kota hospital tragedy in the Congress –ruled Rajasthan. For the last few months, Mayawati is kicking out many Dalit leaders and workers from her party. Mayawati is so confused now a days as she does not know how to revive her party cadre.
Today, Dalit movement has lost sparkle. Mayawati should be held responsible for degradation. Dalit leaders, workers, authors except few are neither sincere nor dedicated to the cause of the Dalits. The Dalit leaders who are running Branches of ‘Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation’(BAMCEF) are plundering poor Dalits. Some greedy and opportunist Dalit leaders come out of their comfortable zone only to raise funds for Mayawati`s birthday. A large sum of such funds being raised for celebrating Mayawati birthday goes to the personal pockets. A close aide of Mayawati claims on the condition of anonymity that Mayawati knows about all this.
In recent times, the emergence of Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar who is always seen on the street for the cause of the Dalits has stirred the Dalit base of Mayawati. She criticizes like an old woman whatever is done by Bhim Army Chief in the country. In her tweet she said, “The Dalits are of the view that Bhim Army `s Chief Chandrashekhar is playing at the hands of the rival parties, and as part of conspiracy, when the polls are around the corner, he stages protests and goes to jail to affect the party`s votes in states where BSP is strong”. According to a local resident of Delhi and an erstwhile BSP supporter explained that, “Mayawati has no base in Delhi. Candidates who pay to the local BSP President that ultimately goes to Mayawati pocket, dole out BSP tickets. As a matter of fact, the BSP is party of dacoits who want to plunder poor Dalits sometimes on the pretext of making Mayawati Prime Minister of India or sometimes for Mayawati`s Birthday”. A BSP worker from Karol Bagh who dedicated his whole life for the BSP responded by saying that, Kanshi Ram was actually a true leader. Kanshi Ram knew the pain of the Dalits. Mayawati has lost moral ground to be a Dalit leader.
Mayawati has no respect for dedicated, honest, educated BSP leaders and workers. She is surrounded by greedy and selfish people whose aim is to fill up their own pockets. During 2019 elections such leaders filled their pockets from the public funds. Poor Dalits donated generously to strengthen the party but the larger amount went to their personal pockets. The end result was inglorious defeat.
In this scenario, Dalits of India must reject the politics of Mayawati at national level. Delhi elections are around the corner. Dalits of Delhi must not vote for BSP candidates. In case Bhim Army Chief Chandershekar Azad fields his party candidates that is the best alternate for today.
