NDF to hold rallies to unite Dalits in UP

Lucknow, Nov 4 (UNI) The newly formed National Dalit Front (NDF) today announced to hold series of rallies in Uttar Pradesh from next month to unite Dalits under one banner.

The NDF leaders, who claim to have no political intention and still undecisive to contest the coming Lok Sabha polls, said their main aim was to make the Dalits aware about how the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was 'misusing' them in the name of vote bank and vested political interest of UP Chief Minister Mayawati.

Addressing a press conference here, NDF secretary general Udit Raj said a series of public meetings would be held with Dalits in UP, starting next month.

''In December, NDF national president Ramvilas Paswan, working president Ramdas Atwale and other leaders would address a Khatik, Balmiki, Paswan rally at Allahabad, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh,'' Mr Raj announced.

Mr Raj, who is also the president of Indian Justice Party (IJP), said several leaders of the BSP have contacted them and shown their interest in joining the new outfit.

''In the coming days, several former and present Dalit leaders, who had been attached with late Kanshi Ram or Mayawati will join the NDF,'' he further claimed.

Hitting hard on Ms Mayawati, the NDF leader claimed that the Front would expose her for compromising on the ''Bahujan Hitaya'' principle of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and changed to 'Sarvajan Hitaya' by colluding with 'Manuvadi' forces. ''Ms Mayawati is no longer working for the poor, downtrodden SC and STs, but had strayed and is more concerned about welfare of rich people,'' he alleged.

Reiterating the Front's agenda for Dalits, backwards and tribal unity in the country with their seven-point charter of demands, he said it would strive to become an alternative for them and would work to ensure their reservation in the private sector, along with setting up a National Development Authority to ensure spending of allocated funds for Dalits and tribals on them only.

Other demands of the NDF were setting up of a National Judicial Service on the lines of IAS/IPS and reservation for Dalits in it so that they have representatives in High Courts and Supreme Court.

Also, speedy implementation of filling the vacancies for SC and ST.

''The front would work for upholding the ideology of Dr Ambedkar which had been forgotten by the people.It would also work for quality education for Dalits as it was crucial for their development,'' Mr Raj said.

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