SP’s anti-Dalit face exposed again: Dr Lalji Prasad Nirmal

Former chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation and Legislative Council Member Dr. Lalji Prasad Nirmal, in a blistering attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, called his program to mark the death anniversary of Kanshi Ram as mere ‘theatrics’.

In a statement on Thursday, Dr Nirmal said Akhilesh Yadav is the same leader who, upon coming to power, called the Ambedkar Memorial an ‘Ayyashi Ka Adda’ (den of indulgence) causing an uproar in the Dalit community across the state.

Advertisement

He alleged that the SP government removed Kanshi Ram’s name from the Urdu, Arabic, and Persian university established in his memory. Similarly, the names associated with Ramabai Nagar in Kanpur Dehat and Sant Ravidas in the Bhadohi district were also removed. In Lucknow, the name of Dr Ambedkar was removed from the Inter-State Bus Terminal and the Green Park in Gomti Nagar.

Nirmal accused the Samajwadi Party and its leader of a long history of anti-Dalit actions. Under the SP regime, he said nine Dalits were killed in the Panwari incident while in Etawah, a Dalit youth was crushed under a tractor.

Dr Nirmal further alleged that the SP government opposed Dalit interests by tearing the reservation Bill in Parliament and took several anti-Dalit decisions. “Akhilesh Yadav and his associates have always shown contempt for Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, and Sant Ravidas. Today, they carry copies of the Constitution, but they cannot erase their record of discrimination against Dalits,” he said.

He also recounted how Akhilesh Yadav remained silent when Azam Khan insulted Dr Ambedkar by calling him a land mafia during the inauguration of the Haj House in Ghaziabad. “Akhilesh is now bowing before Azam Khan, but no matter how much he pleads, he will not return to power,” Dr Nirmal added.