Ambedkar dares to hold Vanchit Aghadi rally at Shivaji Park

Urges CM Devendra Fadnavis to grant permission for using the ground on February 23

Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi, a political umbrella of left outs led by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar announced to hold a public rally at Shivaji Park in the presence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on February 23. Ambedkar urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to grant permission for using the Shivaji Park ground for his rally. However, the decision is yet to come.

Shivaji Park has around 28 acre ground has a historical background of political rallies. Shiv Sena has set a benchmark of a crowd gathering. After Sena, it was only the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) who dared to hold the huge public rally at Shivaji Park as the crowd shows the strength of the party that directly impacts on voter turnout.

J V Pawar, general secretary of Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh — led by Prakash Ambedkar said that the response to the rallies of Ambedkar across the state has broken crowd record. “We are not worried whether Shivaji Park ground will be filled with people or not. We will never pay money to congregate crowd for the rallies like other political parties' practice. Ours is a self-motivated audience and voters from vanchit (ignored) communities,” said Pawar.

“People from the Dalit, micro castes from Other Backward Classes and Muslims are our audience. All rallies received overwhelming response from the people. The only challenge before us is to convert this crowd into votes,” he added.

Ambedkar, meanwhile, told the media that he will announce candidates of the Vachit Bahujan Aghadi during the rally at Shivaji Park.

“We are waiting for the response from Congress about their stand of disciplining Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). We will wait till the nomination process of elections will begin. But, will not compromise on our proposal,” Ambedkar clarified.

He further said that if the Congress fails to give a written proposal on RSS issue, they will go ahead with their own candidates and contest LS elections with the same RSS agenda. He believes that RSS is an unconstitutional organisation.

VBA will field candidates from Mumbai, Thane, Bhiwandi, Raigad, Maval, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg seats. “The original residents of Mumbai such as Koli (fishermen), Aagri, Mali and East Indian community (converted into catholic religion) and tribes have joined the VBA. Representatives of these communities will be party candidates in LS polls,” added Ambedkar.

We are waiting for the response from Congress about their stand of disciplining Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. We will wait till the nomination process of elections will begin. But, will not compromise on our proposal. — PRAKASH AMBEDKAR, Dalit Leader