BSP candidate from Kangra seat won’t take it lying down

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 7

Dr Kehar Singh, 49, an agricultural scientist residing in Canada (NRI), has donned another role. He is in the thick of poll battle, aggressively canvassing for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to “oust the BJP and Congress and establish a regime as envisaged by father of the Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar.”

A one-man army, Kehar Singh is always well-attired. His family in Canada, he is here to campaign for himself and three BSP candidates fighting from Kangra, Shimla, Mandi and Hamirpur.

Dr Kehar’s movable assets exceed Rs 7.40 crore, as as per the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission. He has Rs 3.41 crore in his bank account. His immovable assets in his native village are valued at Rs 80 lakh.

Dr Kehar is contesting from Kangra, his home district. He claims the BSP would increase its vote share from a dismal less than 2 per cent in 2014 to 15 per cent now. He says Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s year-long rule in Himachal and the BJP government at the Centre have made it worse for the Dalits and OBCs. He also mentions incidents of alleged cow lynching and caste violence.

He claims the Modi government’s MSP scheme has benefited only 10 per cent farmers in Himachal.

 “The BSP has a development model for farmers that will ensure profitable rates for crops, the input cost will come down and productivity raised”, he says.

Dr Kehar describes note ban as a  “well-planned move” to convert black money into white. “I have joined the BSP because this party promises a casteless, secular India whereas the BJP, Congress, CPM and AAP are headed by high caste leaders”, he explains.