Bihar election: Eye on votes, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal takes part in Dalit Mahapanchayat

The Hindu

27-04-2025

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Dilip Jaiswal along with Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary jointly attacked Congress party alleging that party did not do anything for the upliftment of the Dalits.
They all had gathered to address people during 'Dalit Mahapanchayat' organised by 'Bihar Ravidas Vikas Sangh Parivar' at Miller High School ground in Patna on Sunday (April 27, 2025) to honour Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
Mr. Meghwal said that the Constitution given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar gave equality, freedom and brotherhood. Referring to sandalwood, he said that no matter how you look at sandalwood, its fragrance remains the same.
'Man should also be like that and there should be no difference between man's words and actions. Baba Saheb used to say that there is a difference between the words and actions of Congress leaders. He never used to like the Congress leaders,' Mr. Megwal said.
He also accused the Congress of conspiring against Baba Saheb. He said that 'Baba Saheb is immortal'.
With an eye on Dalit votes, all the leaders, including Health Minister Mangal Pandey paid floral tribute to Baba Saheb's picture and bowed in front of him.
Praising the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, Mr. Jaiswal said that it is continuously working for the upliftment of the Dalit community. He stressed that the Congress ruled the country for 65 years, but it kept the poor people poor only.
'Congress party did not try to take the poor forward despite coming to power with the slogan of Garibi Hatao (remove poverty). The poor people were never their priority,' Mr. Jaiswal alleged.
He also accused the Congress party for misleading the country. He alleged that Baba Saheb was never respected by Congress and the grand old party always humiliated him which the country has not forgotten.
'Everyone knows when Baba Saheb died, even two yards of land was not made available in Delhi for his last rites, not only this, fare was charged from his wife for carrying the body. Today the same Congress is shedding crocodile tears in his name,' Mr. Jaiswal said.
He claimed that Congress party did not even provide land for building Baba Saheb's memorial, however when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, Baba Saheb's memorial was built in Delhi and the NDA government honoured him with Bharat Ratna.
Mr. Choudhary while addressing the Dalit Mahapanchayat echoed the same claiming only the NDA government is uplifting the Dalit society by following the footsteps of Baba Saheb.
'When the NDA government was formed in Bihar, then the work of giving reservation in the Gram Panchayat elections was done. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had written a letter to all the Chief Ministers protesting against the reservation. Whenever reservation was opposed, it was done by the Congress party,' Mr. Choudhary alleged.
He asserted that BJP led NDA talks about Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and India are moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Listing out the achievements of the State government, Mr. Choudhary said that the work is being done to change Bihar under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
'The central and state governments are working together for the welfare of Dalits. Schemes are being implemented continuously for the development of the poor in Bihar. People are getting direct benefits of these schemes,' Mr. Choudhary said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also stressed that following the footsteps of Baba Saheb, the double engine government of Mr. Modi and Mr. Kumar is implementing 22 types of schemes for the upliftment of Dalits and 80% of the families in Dalit settlements have got Ayushman cards.
Mr. Chaudhary said that in this year's budget, the scholarship of Dalit students has been increased from ₹1000 to ₹2000 per month and a decision has been taken to build Savitribai Phule hostels in all 38 districts.