Battle 2019 is still wide open: Anti-caste, secular and social justice forces must unite on one platform

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*
After winning Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and losing other three and stealing two of the three states against all the ethical norms, the next agenda of the Sangh Parivar and their paid trolls is to target the leadership of the three parties... Started with Rahul Gandhi, who they continue to call Pappu with TV anchors have started doing it, putting aside all the decency which is required for the media.
The debate is not on why BJP stole two mandates but about how it won the mandate in UP and Uttarakhand. It happened same last time when the party lost in major states but the entire discussion was converted into humiliating the Congress Party. The ruling party agenda is not satisfied with their victory in Uttar Pradesh but they want to completely eliminate the leadership of the opposition to create anarchy and chaos in their cadres hence we have to be very careful.
For a healthy democracy we need strong opposition and therefore it is our duty to protect our parties, make them more reasonable and accountable to people. it is not easy to make a party and get accepted in these times of highly media savvy age.
Congress lost but to suggest that a Jitin Prasad, Jyotiraditya or Sachin Pilot or Shashi Tharoor should lead the party is not the business of the media or BJP. Can they really do and replace the Gandhis who despite all the abhorrence and mocking remain a brand that can counter Modi and RSS . It is the job of the party to do so. Similarly, attempt are to demolish BSP and Samajwadi party. Yes, they lost and I had been calling for their alliance. It is still not late for the two to come forward.
We know BSP need to reenergise and regroup itself. It need to bring new faces of Ambedkarite movement but also make the party open to all the anti caste forces as Baba Saheb had wanted. Miss Mayawati is a national brand in terms of appeal among the Bahujan masses even if there are weaknesses in the party. The party need to go beyond Uttar Pradesh but will have to work in alliance now. The coming years are very crucial for all of us who want to look the idea of India as inclusive and secular. BSP need to put the Bahujan agenda back to politics, develop new leaders of various communities, give space to diverse Dalit Bahujan identities but also open its space for others anti caste people who might not be born as Dalit Bahujans but politically oriented to Ambedkarism, Socialism and anti caste movements.
BSP needs to build up new generational leadership and Bahin ji should continue to lead and nurture them. It is time to develop a strong cultural organisation which raises issues of caste, class, gender, and other socio-political issues and educate the masses.The Buddhist movement should also be strengthened. It is time to rebuild it and take it to all the Bahujan masses.
Ms Mayawati and Mr Akhilesh Yadav should join hand in the greater interest of Bahujan masses. But to all those who want these parties to eliminate, will only help the likes of Amit Shah. It is not easy to build a brand. All these parties have their people all over the country. Congress is not going to get anything from Brahmins, nor are they going to help BSP and SP. The parties need to provide space to Dalits, Muslims, OBCs. Sangh Parivar have used the Muslim card to bring all OBCs, Dalits under its umbrella.
Our work is not over. Let this team join hand. I know there are murmurs in Samajwadi Party against Akhilesh Yadav but it will be playing in the hands of BJP if he is isolated. He has shown courage and only need to understand the issues of Bahujan Samaj. He must not give credence to any one in the party who have anti Dalit feeling.Akhilesh Yadav has age with his side and is far superior to Mulayam Singh Yadav's group led by Shiv Pal Singh Yadav.
All these parties will have to first train their cadres, a majority of who suffer from anti Muslim mindset and therefore when BJP played Muslim card, they used it. RSS and Modi have used all the methods including contradictions between various communities and hence in 2019, it would not be possible for them to make further jumlas. It is time, that leadership of these parties join hands from today, come on the street, educate the cadre and start working on the ground.
Come on an understanding. All the parties need to give space to progressive, anti caste, anti communal forces and merely identity politics will not work. Sangh has used this to best of its usage hence we must raise issues of violence on Dalits, issues of reservation, farmers death, communalisation and brahmanisation of campuses. The youths are desperate. Our young students are being killed by the Dronacharyas and we cant speak just before the elections on these issues.
The battle must continue. Muslims are getting threatening letters. Can we tell the people that India is great as a united India? Let us isolate all kind of and all forms of religious fundamentalists. Let us take on all kind of fundamentalists head on. Let us prepare for 2019. Don't get disappointed by the sick brahmanical corporatised media which is already given its verdict. UP, Bihar are important battle ground along with Maharastra. A fair understanding will help build a strong rainbow coalition which should have progressive approach. I bet, 2019 is widely open now and it will not be an easy walk for Sangh Parivar now as Modi and his team will have not more to hype unless they work.
Will BSP-SP-Congress-Left-RJD come on an understanding? Time for all to see. Also important is to strengthen secular-anti-caste-ambedkarite cultural movement all over the country to counter the vicious communal propaganda. Will our leaders show some maturity and statesmanship?
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*https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat/posts/10154695940202885

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