Patna, May 9: The BJP today used the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap to woo upper caste Rajputs in this election year.
Political analysts, however, believe that it was a ploy to sharpen its Hindutva plank.
Celebrating the birth anniversary of the Rajput king at Vidyapati Bhavan, the BJP leaders talked about his fearlessness and patriotism. Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav said when they (BJP) invoke the name of Maharana Pratap and Shivaji, people describe them as communal.
Addressing the gathering, Nand Kishore said: "Maharana Pratap should not be confined to only one caste. He was a person who thought and worked for all sections of people. He was a great fighter and a true patriot. However, I must say historians have misinterpreted him and made Akbar bigger than Pratap."?
Though the programme was organised by Maharana Pratap Jayanti Samaroh Ayojan Samiti it was out and out a BJP show. The organisers had not invited leaders from the parties other than the BJP. All the speakers said the function should not be seen as an effort to woo a particular caste.
However, it was predominantly organised by a Patna-based organisation named after Rajput caste like Rajput Mahasabha, Akhil Bharatiya Kshetriya Mahasangh, Veer Kunwar Singh Sansthan, Akhil Bharatiya Rajput Ekta Mission and Shri Rajput Sabha from Delhi and Jaipur, respectively. Even most of the audience belonged from the Rajput caste.
Political observers said BJP and other parties, too, would not miss the opportunity to woo castes suited to them with elections drawing close. It also assumes significance because BJP bête noire Nitish Kumar is trying hard to break the monolith of upper caste vote bank, which is generally believed to vote for the BJP and its alliance partners.
A few days back, Nitish had announced scholarship for upper caste students passing the matriculation examinations from the government schools in first division worth Rs 10,000 per annum. Also, upper caste students in government schools whose family's annual income is less than Rs 1.5 lakh per year would get stipend.
The other BJP leaders who were present on the occasion include Rajya Sabha MP R.K. Sinha, deputy speaker in the Assembly Amrendra Pratap Singh and former Union minister Sanjay Paswan.
It is a tradition in Bihar that different political parties use the birth or death anniversaries of eminent leaders of different castes to woo voters, especially ahead of election.
Recently, a series of such programmes was organised by JDU, BJP, Congress, RJD and other political parties in honour of Veer Kunwar Singh and Bhim Rao Ambedkar and now Maharana Pratap.
To give a sentimental touch to the event, the organisers had brought soil from Haldi Ghati. Pinches of soil were smeared on the forehead of the participants. Haldighati is the place known for the battle between Maharana Pratap and the Mughal army of Akbar.
