Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan wants to take the fight to Delhi
Bhim Army founder dreams of a Dalit uprising that will clinch power at the Centre.
The celebration in Saharanpur’s Chhutmalpur has just begun. The man of the moment is Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’, who is out on bail.
“Have faith in me,” Bhim Army founder tells a gathering in the chaupal outside his house. “I don’t make random and baseless statements. In a year and a half, I will form an organisation equal to or bigger than the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The country will run as per the ideals, as it should have.”
In an interview with Newslaundry, he says the 16 months in jail have made him more resolute and determined about his political and social goal. Chandrashekhar says he will work towards dethroning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has a dream of clinching power at the Centre. The advocate and Dalit activist spoke about his life in jail, his political options and why he is declaring war against the BJP and Sangh Parivar.
The Bhim Army founder was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police in the aftermath of protests and arson triggered by inter-caste violence in Saharanpur's Shabbirpur village in May, 2017. Chandrashekhar had organised a rally in Delhi where he announced that he will surrender in front of the police. He says both the Delhi police and UP police refused to arrest him initially. When asked why he went underground after the Delhi rally, he said, "My sources told me that the UP police intends to kill me in an encounter."
Though Chandrashekhar refers to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo as “Buaji”, Mayawati, in a presser after his release from jail, lambasted the Bhim Army founder: “The one involved in the caste violence against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh’s Shabbirpur village and now released on the bail, which is part of the BJP’s strategy is now using my name. He is calling me Bua and claiming of blood relation. I can’t have any wholehearted relations with people like these.”
When asked to respond to Mayawati’s criticism of the Bhim Army, Chandrashekhar says, “I don’t hold any grudge against her. She might have been misled about me or someone might have provoked her against me. She is my buaji, she has all rights to speak about me. Ye humare parivarik rishtein hain. Ghar ke maamlon mein hum doosre logon ko nahi involve karna chahte [this is an issue within the family, and I refuse to involve outsiders in it].”
Speaking on the role of non-Dalits in his Dalit uprising, he adds, “This is a Bahujan movement.” He further added, “When the national committee [of Bhim Army] will be declared, you will see people from the Bahujan community in key positions. It will be run by people from the Bahujan Samaj.” However, he says there can be space for anyone who wants to work for the cause.
One thing that he is very clear about is his goal ahead, that is, the expansion of Bhim Army. “My fight is against the BJP,” he says when asked whether he is up against the state government or the Centre.
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Calcutta High Court to consider plea against CM Mamata Banerjee's alleged contemptuous remarks
Kolkatta: In a significant development, Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya brought a plea before the Calcutta High Court, urging it to take suo moto cognizance of purported remarks attributed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The plea contends that Banerjee's comments implied bias on the part of High Court judges and suggested that the institution had been compromised.
These remarks surfaced following a recent ruling by the High Court nullifying approximately 24,000 teaching and non-teaching positions implicated in the notorious cash-for-jobs scandal.
Addressing a division bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, Bhattacharya stressed on the gravity of the situation, asserting, "This is criminal contempt." He further stressed the need for the Court to intervene, given the Attorney General's reluctance to provide consent for proceeding against the Chief Minister.
The plea underscored the damaging effect of Banerjee's alleged statements on the credibility of the judiciary, stating, "Everyone is laughing at us, this has put us into ridicule." Bhattacharya supported his argument with newspaper clippings from various publications, both regional and English, which highlighted the controversial remarks.
Acknowledging the sensitivity of the matter, the Court has directed for affidavits to be filed and has scheduled a hearing accordingly.
Meanwhile, another plea has been filed challenging the same remarks attributed to the Chief Minister.
