Farmers Movement Archive

BJP netas to dine with Dalits in party’s mass outreach blitz in UP

LUCKNOW: While positioning itself to launch a slew of mass outreach programmes from Friday to commemorate four years of BJP rule in Uttar Pradesh, the saffron party chalked out a strategy to galvanise Dalits by dining with them in run-up to panchayat elections. Party sources said, the blueprint of the campaign has been hammered out by the party brass at the recently held state executive meet. Recently, state BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh took the lead by breaking bread with a Dalit booth-level functionary after holding a gram chaupal at a village in Sultanpur. “The issue of ‘samajik samrasta’ (social harmony) was discussed threadbare at the state executive meet and it was decided that attempts by the Opposition to split Hindus on caste lines need to be foiled. For this, the party should associate itself with communities of all hues, including Dalits,” a senior BJP functionary told TOI, confirming the party’s plan to hold community lunch with backward and oppressed sections. This comes close on heels of the party’s decision to consolidate its position at the grassroots by organising programmes, showcasing achievements of BJP from Friday, when the Yogi Adityanath government completes four years in the state. The party has planned a grand function in Lucknow, which would be attended by all senior party functionaries. On Saturday, the party will hold events at all 403 assembly seats to highlight work done in respective constituencies. The programmes, which would be attended by BJP MLAs, MPs and MLCs, will also be shared with people through the audio-visual platform. The party would subsequently make a bid to reach out to farmers in 826 blocks, which comes amid prolonged protests by farmers, particularly in west UP, against new farm laws. Sources said, the party has already asked members of its Kisan Morcha to fan out across the state and hold discussions with farmers, apprising them about steps taken by the state government for welfare of farmers, including stepping up procurement of food grains and initiating steps to double their income. The party will move into micro campaign mode on March 22 when it will reach out to youth in all 3,051 wards of zila panchayats. This will be followed by programmes to consolidate its position amongst women on March 23 and then amongst street vendors on March 24. The party functionaries would then conduct door-to-door campaigning on March 25 and March 26.

The Times of India

2021-03-19

Lucknow