BJP rolls out a series of events to woo dalits

New Delhi: Sensing unease within dalits, the BJP has decided to reach out to the community with a series of programmes. The Saffron party on Wednesday kicked off a series of programmes aimed at reaching out to dalits and backward sections of society with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that his government is working to realise the visions of dalit icon Bhimrao Ambedkar and social reformer Jyotiba Phule.

Interestingly, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, during a one day fast for harmony on Monday, had called the Prime Minister as “anti-dalit”. Trying to counter the allegation of the Congress, the BJP observed the birth anniversary of Phule, who is venerated especially by dalits and backwards for his relentless struggle for social reforms, as “Samta Diwas” (equality day) on Wednesday. It will launch the “gram swaraj” campaign on Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14.

Mr Modi, in an audio conference call, told the party leaders in state legislatures and Parliament that his government had been striving to realise the dreams of Mahamta Gandhi, Ambedkar and Phule of empowering villages. The “gram swaraj” exercise, which will continue till May 5, will be aimed at fulfilling the dreams of these stalwarts, he said, asking the party’s representatives to fan out in villages to ensure that people there get benefits of government schemes, an official statement said.

April 20, 24 and 28 will be observed as “Ujjwala Diwas”, “Panchayati Raj Diwas” and “Gram Shakti Diwas” respectively to highlight various government schemes.