Savitribai Phule, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, resigned from the party on Thursday, 6 December, saying “The BJP is trying to create divisions in society.” She said that she will, however, complete her term as an MP.
“I have nothing to do with the BJP from today. The issues raised by me have been ignored because I am a Dalit. This is a conspiracy against the community and their rights.”Savitribai Phule, Bahraich MP
She asserted that the Dalits wanted the Constitution and not a mandir and that she will launch an agitation to champion the cause on 23 December.
Lashing out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Phule said that he refused to “embrace” Dalits. She questioned if he ever ate food that was cooked by Dalits.
“If Yogi Adityanath really loves Dalits like he says, then he should love them more than he Lord Hanuman. Has he ever embraced any Dalit? He would eat food at Dalit homes but was the cook Dalit?” Phule asked.
She was elected to the state Assembly in 2012 from Balha in Bahraich district. She contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Bahraich and won.
Phule has been attacking the BJP and its governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh for their alleged indifference to the concerns of Scheduled Castes.
She has also accused the BJP of dividing society and over its Hindutva plank.
Uttar Pradesh Minister OP Rajbhar reacted to Phule’s resignation, saying that the people of the state are very “dissatisfied” with the government and that the repercussions of that will be seen during the elections.
Upendra Kushwaha Likely to Sever Ties With NDA Today
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), led by Upendra Kushwaha, is likely to sever ties with the NDA government and a formal announcement could be made later on Thursday, reported PTI.
He is also likely to put in his papers as Union minister, a leader told PTI on condition of anonymity.
“That (Kushwaha’s resignation) is just a formality which will be completed once he visits the national capital and meets the prime minister,” the leader said.
Kushwaha, who is the minister of state for HRD in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.
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