Reality of caste politics bites state AAP

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, December 24

Venturing into the politics of caste symbolism, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Naveen Jaihind urged the Brahmin community to fight for their rightful place as the responsibility of ushering in transformation in society lies with Brahmins.

Attending a function organised by the Yuva Brahmin Ekta Manch in Bhiwani on Sunday, Jaihind said that the Brahmin community had a history of sacrifices. “Despite living in a state of penury, the community showed direction to the society and the history is evidence to this fact. But the social and political neglect has further pushed the people of the community in deeper crisis,” he said, and added that he hoped that the community would again emerge as the centre of politics in the state.

Jaihind forayed into politics riding the anti-corruption campaign as he was associated with social activist Anna Harare in 2011. He joined the agitation as student activist in Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and later joined Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP. Hailing from Brahmin family, he belongs to Bhainsru Kalan village near Sampla in Rohtak district. Jaihind, however, claimed that he did not believe in politics of caste and would not take recourse to caste politics for his political advancement.

Adarsh Brahmin Sabha president RK Sharma said that the Brahmin community was proud of Jaihind as he had carved a name for himself as well as for the community with activism as student and political leader.

Pawan Kumar Bansal, a political expert who has authored three books on politics of Haryana, said caste had always been a factor in Haryana politics. “Though AAP claims to be a political outfit which doesn’t indulge in caste politics. But the caste symbols being ascertained by Jaihind as well as Kejriwal exposed their political intentions to exploit caste sentiments for electoral success,” he said.

Bansal said, “Utterances by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to ask Punjabis for votes as he too is a Punjabi in Karnal and past records of Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, INLD leader Abhay Chautala calling themselves as Jat to woo this votebank are blatant examples of such politics in Haryana.”