The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formulated a strategy to confront Lalu Prasad Yadav and the RJD alliance in the upcoming Bihar elections. The BJP is focusing on an alleged instance of disrespect towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to politically weaken Yadav by employing his established ‘social justice’ narrative against him. The BJP has utilized three Union Ministers from the OBC and backward communities to implement this strategy.
The BJP is strategically using the controversy surrounding Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to target Lalu Yadav. The party is highlighting the alleged mistreatment of Ambedkar’s image during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s birthday celebrations. The BJP aims to bring this issue to every village in Bihar before the November assembly elections.
A video that went viral on June 11, during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s birthday, depicted Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s image placed near his feet. The Bihar BJP has been actively pursuing this matter for several days, including a press conference in Patna by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
The Bihar State Scheduled Castes Commission has issued a notice to Lalu Yadav, requesting his clarification on the matter and considering potential action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In response to the growing controversy, Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, representing the OBC and Dalit communities, have intervened. Shivraj Singh Chouhan condemned the incident, stating that neither Bihar nor the nation would condone the alleged disrespect shown towards Ambedkar by Lalu Prasad Yadav and the RJD.
Bhupender Yadav criticized Lalu Prasad Yadav’s silence on the matter, highlighting the atrocities committed against Dalits and backward communities during his rule. He called for an apology. Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Law Minister, joined the chorus demanding an apology. Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also publicly requested an apology from Yadav.
The BJP plans to escalate the issue further. Party sources suggest that Janak Ram, a Dalit minister in the Bihar government, will meet Governor Arif Mohammad Khan to seek an apology or legal action against Lalu Yadav over the perceived insult to Ambedkar.
The BJP intends to carry out protests across Bihar, taking the issue of the alleged insult to Ambedkar to the mandal level. This will include the burning of effigies of Lalu Yadav at the district and mandal levels, along with organized protests. The Bihar BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha will be leading these demonstrations. The BJP’s approach of deploying OBC leaders and Union Ministers aims to dismantle Lalu Yadav’s social justice platform.