Rashmun, Is this true about U.P?

by Rishi Sun May 18, 2014 7:07 am

The RSS had for years been embarked on a project of "reclaiming" Dalits by offering them respectability in the Hindu order. Recently, a group for communal harmony in Kerala placed on the dais two individuals from opposite sides of the Gujarat 2002 pogrom. One was Qutubuddin Ansari who became the iconic image of the pogrom imploring his attackers to spare him. The other was a sword wielding young man looking fearsome with a red bandana around his head: his name was Ashok Mochi. A Mochi means a cobbler. Herein lies a tale.By giving them frontline roles in communal conflicts, the Sangh Parivar has dignified Mochis, Khatiks (fruit sellers), Lohars (blacksmiths), Nayis (barbers), Valmikis (toilet cleaners), Dhobis (laundry washers) in large numbers as Hindutva's foot soldiers. Amit Shah has been something of a genius who, by employing this new Hindu infantry, has altered UP's political sociology. By focusing on Mayawati and Mulayam Singh as Muslim appeasers in an atmosphere of perpetual communal tension, Shah succeeded in luring Dalits and OBCs into the burgeoning Hindu Parivar. Rather than be taken for granted by the two who were busy luring Muslims for their electoral support, would Dalits and OBCs not be better off with a Dalit Prime Ministerial candidate? Rather than remain static with Maya and Mulayam, they would progress with a dynamic Hindu formation. The challenge for Modi now is to reach out to a frightened electorate which has grown accustomed to caste protection for the past 25 years. The most rudderless, running helter-skelter for security, have been the Muslims

http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analysis/congress-caste-parties-decimated-will-muslims-wither-away

>>>Looks like smart strategy that worked against Congress, SP and BSP.

by Guest Sun May 18, 2014 7:41 am

Naturally some of the low caste hindus have become BJP supporters. That is how we can explain the steep rise in the vote share of the BJP. The new supporters of the
BJP includes the non-jatav Dalits ( Mayawati is a jatav Dalit) and it also includes non-yadav OBC's. The upper caste hindus, including Brahmins, have also voted for BJP.

There is a caste based party called Apna Dal in UP. It represents the Kurmi caste which is the second largest OBC caste in UP after the Yadavas. BJP had an alliance with the Apna Dal in UP wherein it had given three seats ( and also perhaps money) to this party.

BJP's alliance with Apna Dal in UP and Paswan in Bihar means that it will play caste politics wherever it finds it convenient to do so.

Rashmun, Is this true about U.P?

Rashmun, Is this true about U.P?

Re: Rashmun, Is this true about U.P?