New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted Lalu Prasad Yadav at a program in Siwan district of Bihar on Friday. He objected to keeping the picture of Dr. BR Ambedkar near the feet of the RJD chief. PM Modi said that RJD does not respect Dalits. That is why they will never apologize. Lalu Yadav has insulted Dr. BR Ambedkar. PM Modi said that Ambedkar lives in his heart. He accused RJD of not respecting Dalits and backward classes.
Not only this, PM Modi accused both RJD and Congress of ruining Bihar. He said that the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar has brought Bihar back on track, while the opposition parties are against investment and development in the state. PM Modi said, "Everyone should get an opportunity to move forward and there should be no discrimination against anyone. This is the essence of our Constitution. That is why we say 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', but the 'Lalten' and 'Panja' people say, 'Parivaar Ka Saath, Parivar Ka Vikas', this is the essence of their politics. They do not hesitate to harm crores of families of Bihar for the benefit of their families. Babasaheb Ambedkar was against such politics."
Ambedkar...for which Lalu Yadav was targeted
This controversy started after a video of Lalu Yadav's birthday celebration went viral. In the video, a party supporter is seen placing a picture of Dr. Ambedkar near Lalu Yadav's feet. According to the report, Lalu Yadav did not pay attention to the picture and the picture was placed near the chair on which he had spread his legs. After this incident, the National Scheduled Caste Commission wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary of Bihar seeking information about the action taken in this matter. Earlier, Bihar Scheduled Caste Commission had also issued a notice to Lalu Yadav for insulting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. Congress and RJD had earlier accused BJP of being anti-Dalit.
An attempt to attract the attention of Dalits
PM Modi's statement on Ambedkar during his Bihar tour is being seen as an attempt to woo Dalits, because Bihar is politically more vocal on the issue of caste. It is also a fact that RJD has been getting the support of backward, minorities as well as Scheduled Castes. However, political analysts believe that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been calling everyone from upper castes to Dalits as Hindus. RSS has started adopting an inclusive approach towards Dalits and calls everyone Hindu. Today, when PM Modi targeted Lalu Yadav on Ambedkar, political analysts saw it as furthering the agenda of RSS.
Deep ideological purpose hidden in PM Modi's statement
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacks Lalu Yadav, it is not just a comment on an individual or an opposition leader, but there is a deep political and ideological purpose behind it. Through allegations of corruption, nepotism, and misgovernance on Lalu Yadav, PM Modi tries to show the Mahagathbandhan as unreliable and unstable. This attack is part of a strategy to change the thinking of voters by linking Lalu's agenda of social justice with corruption.
Strategy to woo Dalit vote bank
The agenda of the RSS always talks of one nation, one culture, rising above caste. Leaders like Lalu Yadav, who have been representatives of Mandal politics, stand against this ideological thinking. When PM Modi talks about nepotism versus hard work, he carries forward the RSS's line of cultural nationalism and anti-dynasty. This strategy is also important to woo the Dalit vote bank in Bihar. Dalit voters have traditionally been divided between RJD and smaller parties, but the BJP is now trying to connect them through development, social security schemes and new opportunities. PM Modi is projecting himself as an honest and development-oriented leader and is trying to create an image of a better alternative among Dalits by portraying Lalu Yadav as a symbol of corruption. In other words, PM Modi is reinforcing the nationalist and anti-dynastic thinking of the RSS by attacking Lalu Yadav, and at the same time is working on a clear political strategy to make inroads into the Dalit vote bank for the Bihar elections.
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