http://www.etaiwann
Powerful low-caste Indian leader holds huge rally
By BISWAJEET BANERJEE
Associated Press
2010-03-15 07:58 PM Fonts Size:
Hundreds of thousands of cheering supporters marked the 25th
anniversary Monday of a political party representing India's lowest
castes and feted its flamboyant and bejeweled leader as a "goddess"
who leads the country's largest state.
The rally reflected the spectacular rise of Mayawati, a 54-year-old
former school teacher, as much as the political clout of her Bahujan
Samaj Party. Since 2007 elections, the party has governed Uttar
Pradesh, home to 180 million people. Mayawati managed that by forging
an unlikely electoral alliance with the state's upper castes.
Although accused of amassing huge wealth through corruption and
building lavish memorials for her party, Mayawati, who goes by just
one name, commands an enormous vote base among the Dalits, who are at
the bottom of Hinduism's caste hierarchy.
Dressed in peach silk and adorned with diamonds, Mayawati, a Dalit,
addressed hundreds of thousands who had crowded Monday into an
enormous tented area in the state capital Lucknow. Most were Dalits,
who make up about 25 percent of the state's population.
"I am proud of the Dalit people. Whenever I have needed them, they
have supported me. I will not let their heads hang in shame until my
death," Mayawati said to loud cheers.
The rally brought the city to a virtual standstill. Blue decorations _
the party's color _ were everywhere: flags, fountains gushing dyed
water, lights and elephants _ the party's symbol. Graffiti splashed on
walls warned "anti-Dalits" not to mess with Mayawati.
"This rally is a show of strength for Mayawati to send a message
across India that she is no pushover," said S.P. Pandey, a local
political analyst.
But her party, which was founded by Mayawati's political mentor Kanshi
Ram, has yet to replicate its success in Uttar Pradesh on the national
stage. It is part of the opposition bloc and has just 20 members in
the 545-member lower house of Parliament.
While she champions the poor, Mayawati's political opponents and
critics have accused her of accruing collections of diamond jewelry
and homes. Government officials line up to pay respects on her
birthday, which she named "Dalit Self-Respect Day." She has also spent
more than 23 billion rupees ($500 million) _ four times her state's
health budget _ building pink sandstone statues to honor herself and
other party leaders.
But to her followers, her conspicuous consumption is often seen as
sign that one of their own has breached India's formidable caste
system to reach high political office.
"For us, she is a Goddess. She has empowered us. Given us voice which
now people are listening to," said Jawitri Devi, a poor women in a
dirty sari, who took her grandson to the rally.
Baburam Kushwaha, a senior party official, denied claims from the
opposition Bharatiya Janata Party that over 2 billion rupees ($43
million) of state money had been spent on the day's festivities in
Lucknow. He said the party footed the bill.
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
No comments:
Post a Comment