Bahujan samaj leaders denounce BJP’s election posturing

The Bahujan samaj leaders addressing a news conference in Panaji on Sunday.

MAPUSA

In a fervent appeal the leaders representing the Bahujan samaj voiced scathing criticism against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of exploiting their concerns solely for electoral gain.

Led by prominent figures such as Congress leader Girish Chodankar, former Minister Chandrakant Chodankar, and AAP President Amit Palekar, the leaders rallied for support toward Congress candidates while denouncing BJP's alleged insincerity towards the Bahujan community.

Former Goa Congress chief, Girish Chodankar led the charge, lambasting the BJP and RSS ideologies for their purported stance against the Bahujan Samaj, claiming that their intent to dismantle reservation policies was evident.

He urged the electorate to discern BJP's electoral strategies aimed at securing votes rather than genuine advocacy for the Bahujan cause.

Highlighting the treatment of BJP stalwart Shripad Naik within the party ranks, former minister and Siolim MLA Chandrakant Chodankar underscored Naik's perceived marginalization despite his stature, suggesting a lack of substantive support for Bahujan representation within the BJP hierarchy.

“We should understand the politics of BJP, they never gave the opportunity to Shripad Naik to become Chief Minister. There is no value for him in the BJP. He could not even get an assembly election ticket for his son,” Chodankar said.

Moreover, the leaders emphasized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's commitment to social justice, particularly through advocating for a caste census, which they argued would bolster Bahujan Samaj's access to reservations and enhance their socio-economic status.

AAP President, Amit Palekar echoed Chodankar's sentiments, expressing disappointment in Shripad Naik's alleged failure to champion Bahujan issues within the political arena.

He criticized BJP's track record on job creation and accused them of disregarding the plight of Bahujan youth.

NCP leader, Avinash Bhosle condemned BJP's fear-mongering tactics, citing attempts to stoke division over caste and religion, while urging voters to rally behind Congress candidates as a means to safeguard democracy.

Dharma Chodankar and other speakers highlighted the achievements of Congress candidate Ramakant Khalap, extolling his leadership and commitment to women's rights, thereby urging public support for his candidacy.

In a litany of grievances, members of the Bahujan Samaj criticized BJP for systemic failures, including delays in scholarship disbursements, unaddressed backlog posts, and inadequate land allocation for marginalized communities.