Attacking the Samajwadi Party, Aazad said that those who are established, do not want to give a chance to new people…reports Asian Lite News
Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad has said that his new political outfit is emerging as an alternative to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), adding that the latter was a “dry tree which is neither providing shelter nor fruits”.
This is the first time that Chandra Shekhar has openly lashed out against the BSP.
Aazad, who was in Mathura to seek votes for his party candidates contesting elections from Govardhan and Chhata constituencies, said that Dalits had propelled the BSP into power but the party was no longer in a position to do anything for the community because it had become “outdated”.
“Change is the law of nature. If one tree becomes weak then an option should be available and Azad Samaj party is available as an alternative.”
He said that people from the community should realise this and they should extend support to his party and make it powerful in Uttar Pradesh.
The Bhim Army chief, whose political outfit Azad Samaj Party was launched in 2020, is seeking to establish itself as a defender of the rights of Dalits, other backward classes and minorities.
Attacking the Samajwadi Party, Aazad said that those who are established, do not want to give a chance to new people.
“Now our alliance is with the public as they will cast votes for us. Akhilesh cannot make our people MLA. We have to fight our own battle,” he said.
Earlier, Azad said that though he is disappointed with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati, he is still open to post-poll alliances with them because his main objective is to prevent BJP from returning to power.
Chandra Shekhar told reporters that he made an effort to approach Akhilesh to stop BJP from winning.
“I respect Akhilesh Yadav but I cannot see people from other castes and religions suffering. He cheated me but I re-emerged as a stronger person and set up our andolan. I tied up with other smaller parties and formed the Samajik Parivartan Morcha. Why should people even vote for the Opposition parties? Have they fought for people or protected them from BJP’s dictatorship? Akhilesh is saying that if elected, he will restore the old pension scheme but why didn’t he do it when he was the chief minister from 2012 to 2017? However, we will see what happens after the elections and will do whatever is needed to stop BJP from coming to power.”
Asked whether he was positioning himself as a Dalit leader, Chandra Shekhar said, “I am projected as a Dalit leader but I am working towards ‘bahujan ekta’. I have fought for various issues like NEET quota, census for the OBC, CAA and NRC. I have set up youth leadership and given the poor an opportunity to work. Leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati are more concerned about their own politics than people. What did Mayawati do for Dalits over the past five years? Holding rallies and asking for votes is not her only job. She should be standing with Dalits. I respect her but I cannot leave the Dalit samaj to die at BSP’s hands.”
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