In the wake of ongoing caste-related clashes in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, the RSS and BJP have been meeting prominent people from the Thakur and Dalit communities and have appealed them to maintain peace and solidarity in the area. As per sources, the incidents in Saharanpur are considered to be a major challenge regarding law and order for Yogi government.
In her trip to Shabbirpur earlier, BSP supremo Mayawati blamed the BJP for causing disturbances in the region. On Saturday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to enter the village.
In the last three days, more than 30 such meetings have taken place in different villages in all seven assembly segments of Saharanpur — Behat, Nakur, Saharanpur Nagar, Saharanpur Dehat, Deoband, Gangoh and Rampur Maniharan.
However, such peace meetings could not be held in Shabbirpur, as the administration is not allowing any political event to take place here.
Adding that there was no political agenda behind these meetings, Saharanpur BJP MLA Kunwar Brijesh Singh said ,“Everyone, including the RSS, wants peace. Both Thakurs and Dalits had voted for me. We are not doing votebank politics in favour of any caste as done by other parties. They were the ones who lost elections and are disturbing the atmosphere here,”
“RSS local office-bearers remain present in these peace meetings. Since they are not political faces, their presence gives a message that meetings have no political motive”, another BJP leader was quoted saying.
Sources said that RSS Prant Pracharak Karmveer Singh and Vibhag Pracharak Pritam Singh were present during these meetings. “As entry of politicians is prohibited in Shabbirpur village, we are holding these meeting in adjoining villages and other areas of all seven Assembly constituency. After holding a public meeting in Shabbirpur village, BSP chief Mayawati tried to attract Dalits. BJP needs to control that damage,” said a BJP leader.
On Sunday, Saharanpur BJP district president Brijendra Kashyap also attended one such meeting in Baheri, in Sagaranpur Dehat Assembly.
