MSN India
Saturday, October 27, 200719:09 IST
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Chandigarh: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today caused a flutter by saying that Mahatma Gandhi had divided the nation on caste lines whereas Dalit leader B.R. Ambedkar had strived to unite all sections of society.
Addressing a meet-the-press programme at the Chandigarh Press Club on her maiden visit to the city as chief minister, Mayawati minced no words to say that the father of the nation, who is credited for leading India's non-violent struggle to end the British rule in the country, had divided the country.
"It was him (Gandhi) who gave the name Harijan to people from lower castes and weaker sections of society. He divided Indian society into two categories - the weaker sections and upper castes," the chief minister said.
"It was Ambedkar who tried to unite all sections of society. I don't want to undermine Gandhi's contribution to the freedom struggle but that also led to the division of Indian society," Mayawati asserted.
She said her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would continue with its ideology to bring the weaker and neglected sections of society to the forefront and also to unite all categories - from weaker sections to religious minorities to upper castes - through its social engineering process.
Mayawati said the BSP, which this year romped home to power with a clear majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, would expand its base and try its social engineering campaign of uniting various sections of society in other states and at the centre.
"As and when the occasion arises and my party workers want me to take control (of power) in Delhi, I must tell you, I will not disappoint them," Mayawati said with a big smile on her face when asked about her prime ministerial ambitions.
Saturday, October 27, 200719:09 IST
Blog this story
Chandigarh: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today caused a flutter by saying that Mahatma Gandhi had divided the nation on caste lines whereas Dalit leader B.R. Ambedkar had strived to unite all sections of society.
Addressing a meet-the-press programme at the Chandigarh Press Club on her maiden visit to the city as chief minister, Mayawati minced no words to say that the father of the nation, who is credited for leading India's non-violent struggle to end the British rule in the country, had divided the country.
"It was him (Gandhi) who gave the name Harijan to people from lower castes and weaker sections of society. He divided Indian society into two categories - the weaker sections and upper castes," the chief minister said.
"It was Ambedkar who tried to unite all sections of society. I don't want to undermine Gandhi's contribution to the freedom struggle but that also led to the division of Indian society," Mayawati asserted.
She said her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would continue with its ideology to bring the weaker and neglected sections of society to the forefront and also to unite all categories - from weaker sections to religious minorities to upper castes - through its social engineering process.
Mayawati said the BSP, which this year romped home to power with a clear majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, would expand its base and try its social engineering campaign of uniting various sections of society in other states and at the centre.
"As and when the occasion arises and my party workers want me to take control (of power) in Delhi, I must tell you, I will not disappoint them," Mayawati said with a big smile on her face when asked about her prime ministerial ambitions.
K.Venugopal - Mumbai on 10/27/2007 9:07:53 PM
It is Mayawati who is a caste leader. Mahatma Gandhi divided the nation when he acquiesced to Islamic communalism. However, at a time when the so-called lower castes were looked down upon by the so-called upper castes, Mahatma Gandhi saw God (Hari) in them also and called them Harijans (God's people) to wipe off the stigma against them. But Hari is of Hindu connotation. Thus calling them Harijans is opposed by those who are anti-Hindus. Ambedkar had ridiculed Rama. And today Mayawati wants to install statutes of Periyar, another person who excelled in insulting Rama and all Hinduism. However, Ambedkar eventually saw merit in the larger Hindu culture and refused to convert outside it. Mayawati's mentor Kanshiram proffered a toilet to a mandir at Ramjanmabhumi, which gives a clue of what Mayawati herself thinks about Ram. Till the only truly nationalist party in India, the BJP, gets its act together, fissiparous caste and communal politics will seem to be gaining the upper hand.
1 comment:
You are a distilled idiot,who failed to learn anything fron History
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