UP CM Yogi Adityanath to spend night at Dalit village in Amroha

BIJNOR: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who will be in Amroha on April 26, will spend a night at a Dalit village in the district and have food there as well. In May last year, soon after Thakur-Dalit clashes in Saharanpur, Yogi had lunch with Dalits in east UP. However, the govt had faced flak after reports said that the state administration had distributed soaps and shampoos to Dalit families ahead of their public meeting with Adityanath in Mainpur Deenapatti village in Kushinagar district.
The CM’s plan to stay at Mehandipur village is being considered a move to woo Dalits in the state.Opposition parties including Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress have dismissed it as a publicity stunt.
The violent protest by Dalit groups, particularly in the Hindu heartland, against the alleged reluctance and delay by the government in filling a review petition in Supreme Court against the latter’s March 20 order that called for changes in the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 showed the extent of Dalit anger against the BJP government.
The agitation had spread across several states in which 11 persons were killed while scores were injured and public property was damaged. The use of social media and anger visible on the street was unprecedented in recent times. Later on some Dalit BJP MPs also expressed anger and resentment against their own government.
However, the Centre blamed opposition parties for instigating Dalit protests. BJP had immediately begun damage control with Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations on April 14.
UP cabinet minister Chetan Chauhan told newsmen here on Sunday that Adityanath will visit Amroha on April 26 and his chopper will land at Hasanpur around 2pm, where he will address a public meeting. “He will review development of Hasanpur area and eat at Mehandipur village. He will stay at Saraswati Shishu Mandir School for the night,” the minister added.
District magistrate Hemant Kumar said, “The CM’s visit is slated for April 26. The programme is a proposal and the village has been selected by party leaders.”
On condition of anonymity an official said, “Mehandipur is a Dalit-dominated village and local BJP leaders have selected for the CM’s stay.”
Talking to TOI, BJP state general secretary and MLC Ashok Katariya said, “The CM will stay for the night at the village and oversee implementation of government schemes. We should not take it as a political event.”
Moradabad Mandal coordinator of BSP, Girish Chandra said, “The problem will not be solved by eating in the house of a Dalit or staying at a Dalit village. The CM should explain what BJP has done for the welfare and prosperity of the community. Nothing has been done so far.”
State general secretary of Congress, Manoj Bhardwaj said, “BJP is committing atrocities against Dalits by playing with their constitutional rights. This visit is only political drama.”