The discordant voices have started emanating within BJP over the party’s ‘Dalit Outreach’ campaign that includes having dinner at the resdences of Dalits.
Caravan News
NEW DELHI — BJP’s Dalit MP from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh Savitri Bai Phule slammed her own party’s ‘Dalit Outreach’ campaign of ‘samarasta bhoj’ (dining to promote equality) and termed it as humialiation for the community, giving embarrassment to the party.
She has reportedly said that dining with Dalits would not serve any purpose and would not benefit even party in any way.
“BJP MPs should stop this drama of having dinner at the residence of Dalits. Is it really benefitting Dalits if upper caste Hindus go and have food at the residence of a Dalit in an obscure village? This is nothing but cheap publicity,” said Savitri Bai Phule, according to reports. “Is this act not increasing the caste divide by identifying one as Dalit and others as upper caste,” she asks.
“These leaders visit Dalit homes…. snap pictures and record videos and share them on social networking sites, it is humiliating for the Dalit community,” Phule said.
“Now reports are emerging that though ministers are having dinner at a Dalit’s house, the food is not cooked by them. Instead it is brought from outside. Ministers and their acolytes are also served mineral water. Tell me which Dalit drinks mineral water at his home that too in a village,” asks the BJP MP Phule.
“Do you think what BJP ministers and leaders are doing will help Dalits in any way,” she asks and replies: “No, if the BJP is really serious about the welfare of Dalits, it should ensure that government benefits reach the targeted audience.”
Earlier in Madhya Pradesh Union Minister Uma Bharti had also criticised party’s much-hyped programme of ‘samarasta bhoj’ that includes having dinner at the residences of Dalits and said she was not in favour of leaders and ministers having food at a Dalit’s house.
“Instead we should invite Dalits to our residence. We should cook food for them and our family members should wash their utensils. This will be samarasta (equanimity) in true sense,” Bharti had said.
