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Journalism of Courage
The much-hyped Brahmrishi Swabhiman rally organised by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday to woo the Bhumihar castes did not offer much cheer to party chief Laloo Prasad Yadav. The crowd was thin despite months of preparation by the Rabri Devi Cabinet’s lone Bhumihar Minister Akhilesh Singh.
Laloo has been trying to woo the community since C.P. Thakur was dropped from the Union Cabinet in June. Thakur was the lone representative of the caste in the Cabinet and his ouster had evoked sharp protests by the community in Bihar.
On Sunday at the rally, Laloo once again tried to remove the misgivings the community has towards the RJD government. ‘‘RJD is not an anti-Bhumihar party and only some vested interests have tried to create the impression that Bhumihars have been discriminated against,’’ he said.
He also said that the way Thakur was dropped and then reinducted in the Union Cabinet with an insignificant portfolio showed that the BJP does not care for the Bhumihar caste. He added that the BJP believes in the policy of use and throw.
Laloo said that though he was committed to fighting for the upliftment of the downtrodden he was not against upper castes.
He announced at the rally that Patna University’s Wheeler Senate Hall would be named after Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, a scholar belonging to the community, adding, ‘‘The BJP should have installed Singh’s portrait in Parliament.’’ Laloo also announced that a lifesize statue of Swami Sahjanand Sarasawati would be installed in Patna.
However, the Ranvir Sena — the private army of upper caste landlords mainly Bhumihars — said that the rally was a ‘‘total flop’’.
The banned outfit responsible for a series of caste massacres in a press release said that the rally was not of Brahmrishis but that most of the participants were ‘‘Yaduvanshis’’ (Yadavs).
