People must get rid of divisive forces: Raj Babbar

UPCC chief Raj Babbar with the party’s UP CM candidate Sheila Dikshit and senior party leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi at a road show in Lucknow. (Photo: PTI)

Newly-appointed UPCC president Raj Babbar on Sunday said that he did not have a magic wand but it is the people who have suffered casteist and communal forces in Uttar Pradesh for 27 years, who have the magic wand to bring a sweeping change.

“We can call upon the people to use the magic wand with just one finger and bid adieu to divisive forces”, he said while addressing party workers here on Sunday.

Later talking to reporters, Mr Babbar responded to questions regarding Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying that she belonged to the family that was symbolic of national unity and integrity and had made supreme sacrifices but remained evasive about her role in UP. He, however, said that she would certainly join in the battle against communal forces.

Mr Raj Babbar said that the main rival of the Congress in this state was neither one party nor one leader.

“Our enemy is corruption, communalism and casteism. We are fighting against these evils”, he said.

Mr Babbar clarified that the new team in the UP Congress was not here to challenge anyone but was here on a mission to wage a war against corruption, casteism and communalism.

Without naming any party or leader, the UPCC president mounted a scathing attack on SP, BSP and BJP.

“One man went around rolling out promises two years ago and got power. Today, he does not say what he has done for

Uttar Pradesh and chooses to go abroad to get applause. Another leader in the same party is one who was externed from his state but he is now all powerful”, he said

In an obvious reference to Samajwadi Party, he said that when the head of the party publicly admits that his people are indulging in corruption, what else is left to imagination.

He praised late Kanshi Ram for bringing Dalits on to one platform but said that his successor had been exposed by her own people who are deserting the party.

Responding to questions about his stint in the Samajwadi Party, Mr Babbar said that he left the SP when it moved away from the principles of socialism.

To party workers who fell over each other to click a selfie with the actor-turned-politician, Mr Babbar said that he would himself visit the homes of party workers for this.