LUCKNOW: Even as the Opposition has been mounting attack on government over the amended citizenship law by calling it anti-Muslim, BJP has come up with a plan to use the legislation to consolidate its support base among Dalits in the state, considered a core vote bank of BSP.
Top BJP sources said the party has directed leaders and cadre to visit Dalit-dominated pockets and tell them that the citizenship law is in favour of SCs and STs who migrated to India after facing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
BJP also plans to use the promulgation of the new citizenship law to win over educated youth ahead of elections for the 11 graduates’ and teachers’ constituency seats of the legislative council. Sources said the party seeks to neutralize the Opposition’s allegations accusing BJP of bringing a law against Muslims, Dalits and poor.
The saffron party has roped in its Dalit cadres in the drive, days after PM Narendra Modi said that most of the persecuted minorities in Paksitan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan belonged to lower castes.
UP BJP general secretary and in charge of the SC/ST Morcha, Govind Narayan Shukla confirmed that SC cadres will be part of the ongoing Jan Jagran campaign to remove any apprehensions among Dalits about the citizenship law.
He said, “The party has asked all its organisational wings to fan out across the state, essentially in violence-hit areas, for interactions.”
Some Dalits got swayed by the Opposition propaganda during anti-CAA protests, said another party leader. “Dalits and poor need to be told separately that there is nothing against them in the law,” he said.
UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh and general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal will directly monitor the campaign through WhatsApp groups, said sources. Party functionaries have been asked to click photos of their meetings with different caste groups and upload them on the groups.
Top BJP sources said the party has directed leaders and cadre to visit Dalit-dominated pockets and tell them that the citizenship law is in favour of SCs and STs who migrated to India after facing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
BJP also plans to use the promulgation of the new citizenship law to win over educated youth ahead of elections for the 11 graduates’ and teachers’ constituency seats of the legislative council. Sources said the party seeks to neutralize the Opposition’s allegations accusing BJP of bringing a law against Muslims, Dalits and poor.
The saffron party has roped in its Dalit cadres in the drive, days after PM Narendra Modi said that most of the persecuted minorities in Paksitan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan belonged to lower castes.
UP BJP general secretary and in charge of the SC/ST Morcha, Govind Narayan Shukla confirmed that SC cadres will be part of the ongoing Jan Jagran campaign to remove any apprehensions among Dalits about the citizenship law.
He said, “The party has asked all its organisational wings to fan out across the state, essentially in violence-hit areas, for interactions.”
Some Dalits got swayed by the Opposition propaganda during anti-CAA protests, said another party leader. “Dalits and poor need to be told separately that there is nothing against them in the law,” he said.
UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh and general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal will directly monitor the campaign through WhatsApp groups, said sources. Party functionaries have been asked to click photos of their meetings with different caste groups and upload them on the groups.
Get the app