Kejriwal, Not Mayawati, Campaigns On Kanshi Ram's Birthday In His Village

ROPAR, PUNJAB: On Dalit leader Kanshi Ram's birth anniversary today, his political heir Mayawati held a rally in Nawanshahar - in Punjab's Doaba region from where the Bahujan Samaj Party founder had begun his politics as a young man. But, it was Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal who made his pitch for Dalit votes in the state by visiting Mr Ram's birthplace, Pirthipur Bunga Sahib.

Addressing a public gathering at the BSP leader's hometown, Mr Kejriwal demanded a Bharat Ratna for the Dalit Icon. "Post-independence, Kanshi Ram is the biggest hero. Bharat Ratan should be awarded to him," the AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister said.

Punjab is a state with among the highest population of Dalits in the country. Nearly a third of the state's population is Dalit and therefore, crucial for every party's political arithmetic even though Dalits are not known to vote as a bloc. Of the two Rajya Sabha seats from the state that fell vacant recently, the Congress has fielded Dalit leader Shamsher Singh Dullo on one. Vijay Sampla, a Dalit BJP MP from nearby Jalandhar, is a minister at the Centre.

"Bring AAP to power...(we will) do everything in our power to ensure no more Rohiths die in the country. BJP is trying to withdraw reservation. I promise... we will not let this happen. Reservations must continue," said Mr Kejriwal in his speech.

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Every AAP lawmaker in the Lok Sabha - there are four - comes from Punjab. The party is now hoping to better its impressive performance of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in the state in which it bagged one of every four votes polled.

That Mr Ram's family is no supporter of Ms Mayawati only helps. His sister has declared the BSP chief Dalit Enemy Number One.  The red carpet was laid out for Mr Kejriwal but not for her. Speaking to NDTV, Swaran Kaur said, "Mayawati... is not welcome here. Rest, anyone can come."

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Asked about Mr Kejriwal's "outsider" tag that the Congress and the Akali Dal have been harping on, she quipped: "It is not necessary that only dalits will stand-up for us. An aam aadmi, honest aadmi can also be our voice."