Skip to main content

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?
---
*https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat/posts/10154695940202885

Comments

TRENDING

'Violation of Apex Court order': Delhi authorities blamed for dog-bite incidents at JLN Stadium

By A Representative   People for Animals (PFA), led by Ms. Ambika Shukla, has held the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) responsible for the recent dog-bite incidents at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, accusing it of violating Supreme Court directions regarding community dogs. The organisation’s on-ground fact-finding mission met stadium authorities and the two affected coaches to verify details surrounding the incidents, both of which occurred on October 3.

The silencing of conscience: Ideological attacks on India’s judiciary and free thought

By Sunil Kumar*  “Volunteers will pick up sticks to remove every obstacle that comes in the way of Sanatan and saints’ work.” — RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (November 6, 2024, Chitrakoot) Eleven months later, on October 6, 2025, a man who threw a shoe inside the Supreme Court shouted, “India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan.” This incident was not an isolated act but a continuation of a pattern seen over the past decade—attacks on intellectuals, writers, activists, and journalists, sometimes in the name of institutions, sometimes by individual actors or organizations.

Adani Power controversy, legacy of pollution and broken dreams in Bihar

By Kumar Krishnan*  The decision to lease 1,050 acres of land in the Pirpainty region of Bhagalpur district to Adani Power for 33 years at a mere ₹1 per acre annual rent has become a major political issue in Bihar. Congress President Rajesh Ram, Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Legislature Party Leader Dr. Shakeel Ahmad Khan, and Legislative Council Leader Dr. Madan Mohan Jha have already marched from Sadakat Ashram to Rajendra Babu's samadhi in Patna over this issue. Pawan Khera and Kanhaiya Kumar are vocally opposing it. Additionally, allied parties of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) are also protesting. The Congress party even held a march in Patna on this matter.

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu.  He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

A revdi-funded dream? Tax breaks, hype, unease: PwC reveals GIFT City’s fragile foundations

By Rajiv Shah   Backed by generous subsidies (or so-called "revdis") channeled to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship project, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or GIFT City, a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report claims it is “uniquely positioned to connect India to international markets and foster next-generation FinTech and IT innovation.” 

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...