Dalit leader Kashiram Dehalwar quits SP

Gwalior, Jun 2 (UNI) Prominent dalit leader Kashiram Dehalwar today resigned from the primary membership of the Samajwadi Party and announced his decision to return to the Congress.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr Dehalwar alleged that he was being neglected by the SP. Besides, he was impressed by the measures taken by the Congress and its Chief Sonia Gandhi for uplifting proletariat sections of society, he added.

He said he had informed SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav about his resignation. He will join the Congress tomorrow at its backward class divisional convention in the presence of Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Mr Dehalwar had actively participated in dalit politics for the Congress till 1990 but quit it to join the BSP. Later, he joined the SP in 1996 and rose to become SP's Madhya Pradesh incharge.

However, he was upset over not being given free hand in the party. He said he had informed senior leaders from time to time but to no avail.

UNI MKS-PS SHB PC1759