Jignesh Mevani, Vadgam MLA, working president of the Gujarat Congress, and one of the outstanding Dalit leaders within the state, says he can’t perceive what improper Gautam did by repeating the vows that B R Ambedkar himself framed for conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism, on the occasion held in Delhi.
“Rajendra Pal Gautam’s inclination in the direction of Buddhism seems to be fairly real. And he has each proper to transform to Buddhism like Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Mevani instructed The Indian Categorical.
He provides that the BJP, “being a pressure of Opposition”, was anticipated to place strain on AAP over Gautam repeating the vows, which embrace the denunciation of Hindu gods and goddesses. “However I’m not clear why he needed to stop,” Mevani says.
Gautam has claimed that it was his personal resolution to resign, to spare AAP from BJP assaults.
On AAP’s silence on the matter after the BJP attacked Gautam, Mevani says he was not likely stunned. “For a similar causes as to why AAP didn’t utter a phrase on Delhi riots, remained silent on Bilkis Bano, retains mum on Dalit atrocity instances, they don’t seem to be defending Rajendra Pal Gautam.”
Questioning AAP’s claims of doing “politics of labor”, and being completely different from different events, Mevani says: “AAP has no agenda of social justice and secularism.”
He additionally believes the incident will boomerang on AAP. “The celebration has bought uncovered among the many Dalits. They now have a motive to reject them.”
The 2011 Census put the inhabitants of assorted Scheduled Castes in Gujarat at round 40.74 lakh, or 6.7% of its whole inhabitants. The Dalits was once thought-about conventional voters of the Congress, however of late the BJP has been in a position to make inroads into the neighborhood.
AAP, which talks of Ambedkar as one in every of its icons, has been attempting to woo the neighborhood. Final month, Kejriwal hosted a sanitation employee from Ahmedabad, Harsh Solanki, and his household at his residence in Delhi.
Of the 13 seats reserved for SCs within the state, the Congress holds 5, together with Mevani who joined the celebration after the polls, and the BJP eight.
AAP nationwide joint common secretary Isudan Gadhvi, nevertheless, argues that somewhat than the celebration, the Dalits had been sad with the BJP over what had occurred with Gautam. “The Dalits in Gujarat are offended with the BJP over the best way it and the RSS acted on the difficulty. In any case, the Sangh additionally visits Ambedkar’s Diksha Bhoomi.”
Calling Babasaheb “God for Dalits”, Gadhvi provides: “This may absolutely backfire for the BJP.”
Following his resignation, Gautam had held a rally in Delhi with Dalit and Buddhist teams from throughout the nation, the place he mentioned he had performed no improper. The individuals had been nearly unanimous of their anger in the direction of AAP, whereas saying there was no shock in how the BJP had reacted.
The Gujarat Buddhist Academy (GBA), a number one group that has been organising non secular conversions within the state for lengthy, agrees with Gadhvi. GBA Basic Secretary Ramesh Banker says: “The BJP is opposing the AAP chief with a political motive. They don’t have an issue with the 22 vows of Ambedkar, however the best way to cease AAP which is rising in Gujarat (is their concern)… They need to do Hindu polarisation whereas portraying AAP, its minister and Kejriwal as anti-Hindu.”
Banker provides that the 22 vows talking of renunciation of Hindu gods and goddesses, which had been repeated by Gautam, had been additionally printed in authorities publications. “So, it isn’t that which the BJP has objection to. Their solely concern is about AAP denting its vote share… We have now been holding such occasions for years. Why are they taking objection to those vows solely this 12 months?”
Banker welcomes Gautam’s resignation although. “It won’t solely profit the celebration, but in addition give Gautam time to take his (Buddhist) motion ahead. It was a well timed resolution, a well-thought-out political transfer.”
Requested if the event may harm AAP politically, Banker says all depends upon the subsequent transfer of Kejriwal. “However I don’t assume that (after this resignation), the BJP will be capable of get any extra profit.”
One other Buddhist neighborhood chief from Ahmedabad and the president of the Triratna Bauddh Mahasangh, Ratnakar Kosambi, additionally says: “I don’t assume that this controversy goes to break AAP and profit BJP in Gujarat as a result of educated folks know very nicely that these vows are integral half (of Buddhist conversion ceremonies).”
There could also be one good factor from the entire controversy, he provides. “It’ll take the phrases of Ambedkar to the plenty.”