By Prerna Mukherjee
The district of Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh has been trapped in an endless cycle of violence. The caste based conflict has now become a major law and order issue for Yogi Adityanath, and a lot of political situations are entangled in the Saharanpur saga.
Dalits vs Thakurs – What triggered the clashes?
Saharanpur has traditionally been a BSP stronghold. However, the party failed to win even a single assembly seat in the constituency this year. With a considerable Muslim population, Dalits are the key to the fortune of both the parties. The BJP has been caught in a quagmire while trying to mitigate their core Thakur base without alienating the Dalits. In what is seen as the first big challenge for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the clashes between the Dalits and Thakurs have left three dead and many injured over the past two weeks as the administration is struggling to control the situation.
It continues to be on the boil with both Rajputs and Dalits held for one-upmanship at the social level. It began with the Rajputs preventing Dalits from installing a statue of BR Ambedkar on the premises of the Ravidas temple at Shabbirpur village. A few days later, the Dalits raised objections to a procession of Rajputs who were bent upon commemorating the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap.
Political battles and recent developments
On Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government had denied permission to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to visit the villages of Saharanpur where caste conflicts have taken place. These clashes left three dead and over two dozen others injured. The administration fears that the law and order situation will worsen if high profile politicians are allowed to visit the affected areas. Gandhis scheduled visit had come in the wake of a visit to the village by the Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, who lashed out at the Yogi Adityanath led government for failing to maintain law and order in the state. Saharanpur was placed under CRPC Section 144 (prohibitory orders).
The internet and other instant messaging services were suspended as social media played a crucial role in triggering the riots. The police had previously failed to contain the tension emanating from Shabbirpur village. Taking note, the UP government has suspended the Saharanpur District Magistrate N P Singh and the Senior Superintendent of Police Subhash Chandra Dubey for allegedly neglecting the situation in the region.
The challenges at hand for the BJP
The repeated cases of confrontation between the Dalits and Thakurs have tested BJPs claims of providing law and order in its tenure. One of the reasons for the eruption of violence is also the nature of the recent electoral victory. Understanding electoral politics, the BJP had relied on upper castes, non-Yadav OBCs and non-Yadav Dalits throughout the election campaign. Together they constitute close to 60 percent of the population.
The remaining 40 percent includes three extremely powerful social groups – Muslims, Yadavs and Jatavas among Dalits. The change in the balance of power and the exclusion of these groups from the power structure began to have an impact on the ground. The situation here is to cope up with the challenges that emerge from these groups.
Political ramifications for the ruling party
The political situation of the BJP and the Adityanath government is immensely delicate. For giving justice to the cause of the Dalits, they will have to punish the Rajputs who constitute a key portion of their vote bank.
The BJP came to power in UP on the plank of improving law and order, terming the erstwhile Samajwadi party rule as goonda raj. BJP is in the middle of a pioneering political trial of creating a multi-caste alliance. For the BJP, these developments will dent its hopes of showcasing Uttar Pradesh as a model state. Further, the Dalit-Thakur violence will only reinforce its image as an “upper-caste party”.
Peace is at stake
BJP’s electoral aim of winning every election will continue to encounter obstacles without the support of the Dalits. The party cannot afford to alienate another community, especially when the Muslims have already distanced themselves even further in the wake of “ghar-wapsi” and “love jihad” campaigns by the saffron brotherhood. At the same time, it needs to retain the loyalty of its older base of upper castes.
Through all the stages of various political developments, peace stands shattered.
Featured image credits: Visual Hunt