Dalits scoff as Ambedkar Mahasabha chief gets govt post from ‘Mitra’ Yogi

Riding roughshod over protests by Ambedkar Mahasabha members, Mahasabha president Lalji Prasad Nirmal honoured Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with a ‘Dalit Mitra’ award on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Nirmal received his return gift four days later when the BJP Government appointed him Chairperson of UP Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, a post which is equivalent to Minister of State.

The state government also appointed former DGP of Uttar Pradesh Brij Lal, a one time close associate of Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, as Chairperson of the UP Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission.

In a written statement issued on Wednesday, April 18 in Lucknow, a government spokesman said: “On the directives of Chief Minister retired IPS officer Brij Lal has been appointed as the chairman of UP Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission. Similarly, Lalji Prasad Nirmal has been appointed the new chairman of UP Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation.”

The appointment of Nirmal as Chairperson did not surprise many because of the way he went ahead with his decision to honour Yogi Adityanath with the Mahasabha’s first Dalit Mitra Award, despite protests from the Dalits across the state. The decision smacked of a tacit understanding between him and the Chief Minister

National Herald had earlier highlighted the anger among Dalits in a write-up “Dalits upset at Ambedkar Mahasabha’s ‘Dalit Mitra’ award to Yogi”, on April 7. Two of the founding members of the Mahasabha, former IPS SR Darapuri and former IAS Harish Chandra had asked Nirmal not to confer any award on the Chief Minister because they say Dalits are being subjugated in BJP regimes across India.

“The way this decision (to confer Dalit Mitra Award to CM) was taken, it seems Mahasabha president Lalji Prasad Nirmal is playing in the hands of BJP,” Harish Chandra had told this reporter earlier. “How can one think of conferring the Award to CM when atrocities on Dalits are on the rise. This is really a shame to even think about this,” he said.

The day Mahasabha honoured Yogi with the Dalit Mitra award, both Darapuri and Chandra staged protest and were arrested. “Our apprehension proved correct. Nirmal ji used Mahasabha for personal gains. It was a quid pro quo situation. Mahasabha honoured CM and Yogi made Nirmal ji Chairperson,” Chandra said adding that the Mahasabha was formed to spread the ideas and principles of BR Ambedkar, and not to serve personal interests of anyone.

Government also made Brij Lal, a 1977-batch IPS officer who was one time considered close to BSP and was made Director General of Police during Mayawati’s regime in as as Chairman, UP SC/ST Commission, the post which is equivalent to Cabinet minister’s rank.

Dalits dismiss the award and return gift as a failed attempt to influence Kairana Lok Sabha byelection

Sachin, a resident of Sarsawa Town which falls under Kairana Lok Sabha seat, told National Herald that this is a political move keeping the upcoming Kairana Lok Sabha byelection in mind. “Out of 15 lakh voters in Kairana, 8 lakh are Dalits, who are up in arms against BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly election non-Yadav OBC and non-Jatav Dalits from Western UP had all voted for the BJP, but this vote base is shifting now. By giving Nirmal a ministerial post, the BJP government is trying to placate angry Dalits,” said Sachin.

How BJP's vote base among Dalits is drifting away can be understood by the fact that many Dalit leaders have left the party recently in Saharanpur, the epicentre of the Bhim Army uprising. A couple of days ago, Brajesh Dharuwal, who was district vice president of the BJP in Saharanpur has left the BJP, said Sachin, adding that many more are in queue to leave the party.

“BJP is now trying to create quasi Dalit leaders but they will fail miserably as Dalits are really angry with them. Nirmal is not a leader, he is a bureaucrat who came into the limelight by honouring Yogi. That is all there is to him.”

With inputs by Vishwadeepak.

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