Jagadhri (Haryana) [India], October 2 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati stated that those who promote casteism are acting against the Constitution. Speaking at an election rally in Jagadhri, Haryana, she also voiced her disapproval of the use of the term "Harijan" to refer to SC/ST communities.
Mayawati recalled that during a 1997 conference, she publicly criticised Janta Party leaders for using the term "Harijan."
"They have knowledge of Baba Saheb, but they should also be aware of the correct term for SC/ST communities. I remember in 1977, when I was a first-year LLB student at Delhi University, the Janta Party came to power, and they had pledged to make Jagjivan Ram the Prime Minister, something Congress had failed to do. However, neither Congress nor the Janta Party fulfilled this promise. In 1977, Dalits, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes across the country were deeply upset. They organised a three-day conference called 'Jati Todo Sammelan' in Delhi, where I was invited to speak," Mayawati said.
"At the event, Janta Party leaders repeatedly referred to us as Harijans. I told them, on one hand, you're talking about breaking the caste system, yet on the other hand, you're using the term Harijan. If we take it positively, 'Hari' means God, so does that mean we are God's children and everyone else is the devil's? After this, the Janta Party leaders apologised and agreed it would be more appropriate to use the terms SC, ST, and OBC, as per the Constitution. They had to admit that what Behenji was saying was right," she added.
Mayawati also said that the alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is receiving widespread public support in the Haryana Assembly elections.
"Today in Jagadhri, the people of Haryana have once again reaffirmed their support for Behenji's appeal, signalling that we are on track to form the government in Haryana and put an end to attempts to abolish reservations," she stated.
Haryana will head to the polls on October 5 to elect its 90-member state legislative assembly, with the results to be announced on October 8. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party, winning 40 seats, while Congress secured 30 seats.