Punjab Elections: Kejriwal demands Bharat Ratna for BSP founder Kanshi Rami

Rupnagar(Pb): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday demanded Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram whom he described him as a great visionary. [caption id=“attachment_2676578” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal[/caption] Addressing a public meeting at Prithipur Bunga village, 25 km from Punjab, the birthplace of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram on his 82nd birthday, Kejriwal demanded Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram whom he described as a great visionary and only leader of Dalit samaj after BR Ambedkar. Earlier, Kejriwal on reaching the memorial of Kanshi Ram at Prithipur Bunga village was accorded a warm welcome by Swaran Kaur sister of Kanshi Ram and other family members besides large number of AAP supporters. He garlanded the statue of Kanshi Ram. Kejriwal was presented a ‘Siropa’ (ward of honour) by the Kanshi Ram Charitable Foundation headed by sister of BSP founder. Kejriwal said that when voted to power (in Punjab) the AAP government would fulfill the dreams which Kanshi Ram had seen for the Dalit community. Kejriwal said he was stunned to know about the recent incident of severing of limbs of a Dalit youth in Abohar and police failed to arrest real culprit who is alleged to be close to ruling SAD. There are incidents of rape and burning of Dalit women, he alleged adding that youth who are forming clubs in the name of Dr B R Ambedkar are being harassed. Kejriwal alleged that if Akalis are committing atrocities on Dalits in Punjab, BJP is doing it in other states. He alleged that two central ministers were involved in the suicide of Hyderabad Dalit student Rohith Vemula but no action was taken against them. Kejriwal invited Swaran Kaur sister of Kanshi Ram and other members of Kanshi Ram Charitable Foundation to Delhi to discuss the problems of Dalits of Punjab. Kejriwal claimed that the people of Punjab have made up their mind to vote for AAP government in the state assembly elections due early next year. He alleged said that law and order in Punjab was worst in the country where nobody feels safe. “Drugs ruined youth of Punjab, the education system has collapsed,” he added. Kejriwal later went to Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib to pay obeisance where he was presented ‘Siropa’. He was accompanied by Sanjay Singh in charge of Punjab, Sucha Singh Chhotepur AAP convener for Punjab, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, R R Bharadwaj head of intellectual wing and Baljinder Kaur youth wing leader. PTI