Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 16 April 2018 | Page 25

BHARAT BANDH Jodhpur on March 5
social engineering. “The party included
them in a social coalition, achieving huge
success in 2014 and the 2017 UP polls.
However, it has done little for the political
and social empowerment of Dalits. They
remain backward in terms of access to
education and health,” she says.
As for the SC judgement, Pai says, “It’s
true that the usual safeguards should
apply in the SC/ST Act too, but, on the
ground, the instruments of state do not
function properly and justice is routinely
denied to the Dalits.” BJP Dalit leader and
spokesperson Bizay Sonkar Shastri agr­
ees. Over 90 per cent of the cases filed
under the SC/ST Act anyway end in acq­
uittal of the accused, he points out. After
the Supreme Court ruling, it will be worse.
Since Dalits are now more aware of the
implications, the verdict acted as a trigger,
he admits, but says the “leaderless pro­
tests” were incited by the Opposition in
order to gain political mileage, just like it
sought to use issues like the Rohith
Vemula case. The BJP leader insists the
Vemula suicide was not a Dalit issue as he
“did not belong” to the community.
PTI
“They are doing this to confuse Dalits,”
Shastri explains. “For the past three years
or so, social media has been filled with
misinformation like ‘the BJP will end
reservations’. Our government is clear:
reservations are not going to end. The
Dalit rage without alienating its traditional core votebank logic for which reservations started still
exists. Education and economic indica­
introspectively. “What were the Maratha Coupled with anti-incumbency and other tors are still very low among Dalits.”
The Oppo­sition is trying to create a rift
Morchas all about? Their main demand sticky issues, the BJP has an uphill task.”
Sudha Pai, National Fellow at the Indian in society by projecting “a false impres­
was repeal of the SC/ST Act, in addition
to reservations. Marathas feel Dalits have Council of Social Science Research sion on social media that Dalits are
managed to get ahead. Other intermedi­ (ICSSR) and former JNU professor, bel­ against Hindu society,” he says. “How can
ary communities like the Jats, Patels and ieves the BJP remains a Savarna party that be? They are an intrinsic part of
even Naidus, who are empowered, are that added Dalits in a “downward push” of Hindu society. We don’t want to make an
island of Dalits. There are 112 government
also seeking special benefits. They are
schemes for the empowerment of eco­
communities with growing aspirations.
nomically backward classes and they
Dalits too have become more politically
imp­act Dalits too. It’s in keeping with PM
conscious and aspire for a better life, esp­
Modi’s ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ motto.”
ecially the younger lot. Their anger has
BJP vice-president and Rajya Sabha
exploded with a sense of continued depri­
member Vinay Sahsrabuddhe asserts
vation. It’s won’t be easy for the govern­
“Dalit anger should not
the BJP is only interested in develop­
ment to harmonise their demands.”
cause any division in
ment. “It’s easy to fan emotions on
The numbers are staggering. Dalits
identity issues and a partly perceived
comprise nearly 17 per cent of India’s
society.... It’s not that the
sense of discrimination and injustice,
population—the BJP can’t afford to ant­
government isn’t working
it’s difficult to be integrationist. The BJP
agonise them. “The party has alre­ady
for the Dalits. But the
has established itself as an integration­
discounted the 16 per cent Muslim popu­
work isn’t reaching them.”
ist party and its perspecti ve will be put
lation,” admits a party general secretary.
to test in the coming elections,” he says.
“If they alienate the Dalits too, it would
Ram Vilas Paswan
Food & Consumer Affairs Minister
A stern test, one might say. O
add up to one-third of India’s population.
UE TANGLE
16 April 2018 OUTLOOK 25