On the one hand, the BJP continues to remain in power at the Center on the issue of Hindutva and development, while on the other hand, the efforts of social mobilization against it in UP and Bihar, which are called the Hindi belt, have been intensified by the opposition parties. BJP’s Hindutva is being considered as an edge of Kamandal politics and opposition parties are trying to bring Mandal-2 to counter it. Be it the announcement of caste census in Bihar or the allegation of conspiracy to end reservation, the emergence of these issues has given similar indications. Now in this episode, a statement given by Bihar minister Chandrashekhar on Ramcharitmanas has created a new controversy.
This dispute that started from Bihar has now intensified politics in UP. SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya first told this book against Dalits, now Akhilesh Yadav says that he will ask Yogi Adityanath questions on the disputed cattle. He will ask whether he will be considered a Shudra according to this chaupai or not. Not only this, some miscreants in Lucknow even burnt the copies of Ramcharitmanas. On one hand, the BJP is accusing parties like SP and RJD of insulting Hindus on this whole controversy, while on the other hand, these parties have linked the whole controversy with the insult of Dalits and backward people.
It is clear that the opposition is trying for Mandal-2 through caste census, reservation and now Ramcharitmanas controversy. He feels that now it is necessary for the BJP’s attack that the upper caste vs backward caste should be made among the Hindus. Akhilesh Yadav had made such efforts even during the UP elections. He included many backward leaders including Swami Prasad Maurya, Dara Singh Chauhan in the party. Apart from this, he has also been continuously describing himself as Yadav and backward leader. It is clear that instead of coming on the backfoot on BJP’s Hindutva card, he is trying to mobilize OBCs and Dalits.
In SP’s executive also, shun Brahmins, attention to backward
Even in Bihar, RJD did not give any clarification on Chandrashekhar’s statement. Akhilesh Yadav has also indicated his politics in the formation of the new National Executive of SP. He has not made a single national general secretary of any Brahmin or Thakur leader in his team. Instead, he has given promotion to backward leaders like Balram Yadav, Swami Prasad Maurya, Lalji Verma. It is clear that opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav want to create a bouquet of OBC fraternities, which includes all castes. Well, it has to be seen how much this strategy of the opposition will pay off in the 2024 general elections or will the situation be similar to the 2022 UP elections.
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