Starting Wednesday, the state BJP will organise ‘sammelans’ to reach out to sub-castes of the Dalit community to inform them about how the Adityanath government “has worked towards their benefit, while others have just talked about it”, said BJP MP Kaushal Kishore. After a convention for Jatavs in Lucknow on Wednesday, the party will hold ‘sammelans’ of Katerias, Gaurs, Musahars and Bahelias on November 24. On November 27, the party will hold conventions for Sonkars and Khatiks, for Kanaujias on November 28, for Koris on November 29 and Valmikis on November 30. Jatavs, which constitute a chunk of the Dalit population in the state, are considered strong supporters of Mayawati, who belongs to the same caste. While BJP had earlier planned a ‘sammelan’ for Pasis on December 1 or 2, it is likely to place after the party’s “foot-march” programme scheduled for December 1-15. The BJP has already had such meetings with various OBC sub-castes in the state. Kishore, who is also president of the party’s Anusuchit Morcha in Uttar Pradesh, said they will prove that it is only the BJP that has achieved the mission of B R Ambedkar, as compared to BSP president Mayawati, “who just took his name, constructed memorials, but did not work on his policies”. Advertising “Be it the mission of Ambedkar or Ram Manohar Lohia, it is only BJP that has worked on it. During her regime as chief minister, Dalits were not on the agenda of Mayawati. However, our government has ensured them electricity, houses as well as gas connections… Constructing memorials in Ambedkar’s name does not mean you are following the path shown by him. Mayawati just did that…,” he further said, adding that the Congress also never worked for the benefit of Dalits. Kishore said he would tell the gathering of Dalit sub-castes that BJP not only “gave Ambedkar respect” by developing five places associated with him, including his birthplace, and about how the government at the Centre and state followed his policies too. Congress said such sammelans would not help the party much. “While the Dalit community draws its power from the Constitution, BJP does not believe in it. It rather works on the lines of manu-smriti. Dalits understand this. Dividing them into sub-castes will not serve any purpose,” said Bhagwati Chaudhary, in-charge of the party’s Scheduled Caste department. He added that on November 26, Congress will be celebrating ‘Samvidhan Divas’ at Nehru stadium in Delhi, which would mark the conclusion of state and district-level programmes held by the party so far.

Stay updated with all the Lucknow Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.