The Hindu : Other States / Uttar Pradesh News : BSP woos upper castes through `Brahmin Sammelans'

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Monday, Mar 07, 2005

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BSP woos upper castes through `Brahmin Sammelans'

LUCKNOW, MARCH 6. Trying to clean its anti-upper caste image and expand base, the Bahujan Samaj Party has been wooing them through `Brahmin Samaj Sammelans' across Uttar Pradesh.

The conventions `sammelans'(convention) started from Allahabad and have been conducted in Gorakhpur, Maharajganj and Bahraich with a final `Mahasammelan' sometime in April to be addressed by BSP president Mayawati, party national general secretary S.C. Mishra said today.

He said the BSP wanted to wash its anti-upper caste image and "what better way than to start the campaign with the Brahmins".

"The Thakurs and Banias would also be made aware of the BSP ideology, which believes in an egalitarian society and wants every caste associated with it, not just the backwards," he said.

On whether the efforts would cut into the BSP vote bank of Dalits, he said, "they know that BSP is the only party concerned about their interests. In order to provide the BSP a bigger platform, it is imperative to join hands with other castes as well".

When reminded about being a bete noire of the upper castes in the past, Mr. Mishra said, "we believe in `manavwad' (humanitarianism) and not `manuwad' which divides the society."

He claimed the BSP has adequate representation of Brahmins and and other upper castes in the State Legislature, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

PTI

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