Kejriwal demands Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram

Rupnagar/Nawanshahr, March 15

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today demanded Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram whom he described him as a great visionary.

Addressing a public meeting at Prithipur Bunga village, 25 km from here, the birthplace of BSP founder Kanshi Ram on his 82nd birthday, Kejriwal demanded Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram whom he described as a great visionary and only leader of Dalit samaj after BR Ambedkar.

Earlier, Kejriwal on reaching the memorial of Kanshi Ram at Prithipur Bunga village was accorded a warm welcome by Swaran Kaur, sister of Kanshi Ram and other family members, besides large number of AAP supporters.

He garlanded the statue of Kanshi Ram. Kejriwal was presented a 'siropa' (robe of honour) by the Kanshi Ram Charitable Foundation headed by sister of the BSP founder.

Kejriwal said when voted to power (in Punjab) the AAP government would fulfill the dreams which Kanshi Ram had seen for the Dalit community.

Kejriwal said he was stunned to know about the recent incident of severing of limbs of a Dalit youth in Abohar and police failed to arrest real culprit who is alleged to be close to ruling SAD.

There are incidents of rape and burning of Dalit women, he alleged adding that youth who are forming clubs in the name of Dr BR Ambedkar are being harassed.

Kejriwal alleged that if Akalis are committing atrocities on Dalits in Punjab, BJP is doing it in other states.

He alleged that two Central ministers were involved in the suicide of Hyderabad Dalit student Rohith Vemula but no action was taken against them.

Kejriwal invited Swaran Kaur sister of Kanshi Ram and other members of Kanshi Ram Charitable Foundation to Delhi to discuss the problems of Dalits of Punjab.

Kejriwal claimed that the people of Punjab have made up their mind to vote for AAP government in the state assembly elections due early next year.

He alleged said law and order in Punjab was worst in the country where nobody feels safe.

"Drugs ruined youth of Punjab, the education system has collapsed," he added.

Kejriwal later went to Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib to pay obeisance where he was presented 'siropa'.

He was accompanied by Sanjay Singh, in-charge of Punjab; Sucha Singh Chhotepur, AAP convener for Punjab; AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, RR Bharadwaj, head of intellectual wing; and Baljinder Kaur, youth wing leader.

BSP to go it alone in Punjab, UP polls: Mayawati

BSP president and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh today ruled out alliance with Congress or any other political party in the forthcoming assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a state-level rally at Nawashahar on the 82nd birth anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Mayawati urged Dalits to form an alliance amongst themselves to help BSP get the ‘master key’ of political power by winning 2017 assembly elections in the two states with a huge majority.

Taking a dig at Arvind Kejriwal who visited the BSP founder’s sister in Rupnagar, Mayawati said those who earlier used to stand against Dalit leaders like BR Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram are nowadays showing their concern by visiting their families after their deaths, but it will not help them in the long run. — PTI/TNS