http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090603/nation.htm#1
Maya has lost the plot, feel Dalit scholars Shahira Naim Tribune News Service Lucknow, June 2 Dalit bureaucrats, scholars and politicians are trying to make sense of the confusing signals emanating from the corridors of power following the BSP being reduced to number three position in the state in the Lok Sabha election. During the string of meetings with her party office bearers, MPs, MLAs and ministers, Mayawati declared to once again return to the Bahujan samaj agenda by giving top priority to the welfare of Dalits and most backward castes. However, those familiar with her style of functioning are keeping their fingers crossed and waiting for more concrete things to happen on the ground. “How can we believe her if the same set of upper caste advisors continue to surround her all the time. During the last two years instead of helping her focus on good and clean governance, they kept tempting her with the Prime Minister’s chair to the extent that she could see nothing else,” said a retired Dalit IPS officer on the condition of anonymity. Retired political science professor of Feroze Gandhi College in Rae Bareli Ram Bahadur Verma has followed the rise of BSP for quarter of a century. In his assessment, Mayawati has completely wasted the unprecedented mandate given to her by the people of the state two years ago in May 2007. “One single factor of her defeat was her arrogance that she could get away with anything. She returned to power in 2007 on the slogan “Chhad goondon ki chaati par, mohar lagegi haathi par ( overpowering goons, elephant will get elected) but rather than overpowering the goondas she empowered them by giving them party tickets,” points out Prof Verma. Studying Dalit poltics for decades, Prof Verma describes Dalit self-respect phenomena as something beyond economics. In this context, he justifies Mayawati’s iconic politics of building symbols of Dalit empowerment by spending money on memorials for BR Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and other Dalit icons. But this cannot be at the cost of other basic needs of the poor like rozi, roti, sehat, sadak, shiksha and bijli (employment, food, health, roads, education and power). How can there be any self-respect in the absence of these?” wondered Prof Verma. Comparing Mayawati with Nitish Kumar, Prof Verma observed , “Look what Nitish Kumar has managed to do in Bihar. By sheer good governance he has vanquished his veteran political opponents.” Another vocal critic of Chief Minister Mayawati is retired Dalit IPS officer SR Darapuri who also contested the recent election from Lucknow. Giving an example of her refusing to take feedback, he quoted how she had handed over her own party worker from East UP Ashok Pradhan to the police when he stood up to question her during one of these post-election party review meetings. “The police released him after grilling him for well over two hours and discovering that he indeed was a senior office bearer”. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
