Chaudhary seeks quota for Dalits in liquor outlets
The efforts of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to garner pan-India support for his anti-liquor campaign received a jolt on Friday.
Bahujan Samaj Swabhiman Sangharsh Samiti (BS-4) chief RK Chaudhary, who earlier supported the JD(U) chief ’s anti-liquor campaign, demanded reservation for Dalits in contract of liquor outlets on Friday.
Making a U-turn, Chaudhary said that Dalits should be given reservation in all government contracts floated by the central and state government, including those for liquor outlets.
When reminded of his support to Nitish Kumar’s campaign, Chaudhary replied that he appreciated the Bihar chief minister’s initiative but for the empowerment of Dalits they should be given reservation in all contracts.
“Dalit community is the largest consumer of liquor in UP and they should get opportunity to run the outlets too. It will make them economically independent as well,” he said.
Chaudhary said he would not join any political party and BS-4 would contest assembly election on its own.
He will launch statewide ‘Parivartan yatra’ from September 11 from Parivartan Chowk in Lucknow.
In the first phase, 200 public meetings will be organised in Lucknow, Kanpur, Faizabad and Allahabad divisions. The ‘yatra’ will conclude with a massive rally in Allahabad on October 2.
Equating BSP leaders with snakes and scorpions, Chaudhary said they had grabbed the organisation formed by Kanshi Ram. “I will make a separate shelter for Dalits by launching a new political outfit,” he said.
Chaudhary, a rebel BSP leader, had floated BS-4 after breaking ties with Mayawati.
Addressing a public meeting organised by BS-4 on July 26, Nitish Kumar had called for complete prohibition in UP. He had appreciated Chaudhary for joining the anti-liquor campaign. An influential Pasi community leader, Chaudhary had also assured full support to Kumar’s anti-liquor campaign. Speculation was rife that JD(U) and BS-4 would form an alliance before the assembly election.