BJP Criticizes Akhilesh Yadav for Remarks on Kanshi Ram and Dalit Community

Political Tensions Rise Over Akhilesh Yadav's Comments

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP), for allegedly belittling the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi Ram, and disrespecting the Dalit community.

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's IT Cell, took to social media platform X to share a video of Yadav, accusing him of undermining Kanshi Ram's legacy to enhance the stature of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Malviya stated, "Akhilesh Yadav has previously insulted the Kshatriya community by endorsing a statement from an SP MP who labeled Rana Sanga a traitor. Now, he is mocking the Dalit community's leader, Kanshi Ram, merely to diminish his significance compared to Mulayam Singh."

He further remarked, "It appears you are detecting unpleasantness from every segment of Hindu society. There is no remedy for this ailment known as 'secularism.'"

Kanshi Ram, who established the BSP in 1984, dedicated his life to advocating for Dalits and marginalized groups. His political journey faced numerous hurdles before he gained broader recognition.

The controversy erupted after Yadav made comments at a recent event, stating, "While this is history, it is also true that if anyone had facilitated the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party's entry into the Lok Sabha, it was the voters from this area who helped him achieve that. He could not win from anywhere else."

He added, "Historical records show that at that time, if anyone assisted the party's founder, Kanshi Ram, in winning, it was Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) and the socialist supporters who enabled him to reach the Lok Sabha."

Kanshi Ram was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 from Etawah as part of 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's political landscape, bringing together backward castes and Dalits in opposition to the BJP's growing influence.

However, the partnership disintegrated following the notorious 1995 guest house incident, where SP members allegedly assaulted Mayawati.

Despite the subsequent fallout, Kanshi Ram's victory in 1991 solidified his political legacy and established the BSP as a formidable national political entity.