Bhim Army chief vows to unseat BJP

Shahira Naim

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Tribune News Service

Lucknow, September 14

Pledging to uproot the BJP in 2019, Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan described it as the most anti-Dalit and anti-Muslim government in the past 70 years. Out of prison after 15 months, Azad said he would rest only after accomplishing his mission to unseat the BJP.

While the Saharanpur district administration decided to release him at 2.40 am, a large number of his supporters raising “Jai Bhim” slogan had gathered at the jail gate to greet him.

Briefly addressing his supporters outside the jail, Azad said “ladai toh abhi shuru hui hai” (the struggle had just begun). Asking his supporters to neither garland him nor hold functions to felicitate him, he said he would accept garlands only after wiping out the BJP. “I know I will be felicitated even if I do not survive this struggle,” he said.

Later addressing mediapersons at his native village Chutmalpur, Azad hinted at the RSS remote control by saying that the “Nagpur arrangement” would not be allowed to continue. He said the BJP had no respect for the Constitution. “People were burning the Constitution on Parliament Street but they went scot-free. If this government returns, they will dump the Constitution for good,” he said.

Azad called BSP chief Mayawati her “bua” (paternal aunt) and said that she was honestly working for the uplift of the Dalits.

He said after consulting his supporters, he would decide to support the upcoming Opposition alliance against the BJP. He also ruled out the possibility of contesting elections, saying that his priority at the moment was to raise awareness and mobilise his community to assert their rights.