BJP leaders hold chaupals under Gram Swaraj Yojana despite mosquito trouble, says UP minister

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are hard at work, visiting villages, meeting poor and Dalit people, and solving their problems. All this, while braving stinging mosquito bites, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government has proudly claimed.

The minister of state for education Anupama Jaiswal told news agency ANI that the ministers were looking forward to attending more chaupals (village meetings), to stress the significance of the government’s Dalit outreach programme.

“The government’s ministers are going to villages and holding ‘chaupals’ (village meetings). They are staying in villages overnight despite mosquito bites and the best part is they all are feeling very happy,” Jaiswal told ANI.

“I was supposed to do only two chaupals but I have already done four night stays, and three more are scheduled,” she said.

Under the BJP’s Gram Swaraj Yojana, ministers are dining at the houses of Dalits and staying in villages overnight.

The programme was launched on the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar on April 14 and will end on May 5.

Speaking about the significance of the programme, Jaiswal said the government was busy making policies for the poor and farmers.

“We have launched this programme to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the beneficiaries,” she said.

Jaiswal could not be immediately contacted for comments.

On Monday, UP minister Suresh Rana had sparked a row after he allegedly got food ordered from an eatery during a visit to a Dalit’s residence in Aligarh district.

Another minister Rajendra Pratap Singh came under criticism for likening BJP ministers breaking bread at Dalit houses to Lord Ram eating Shabri’s ‘ber’.