Dalit BJP legislator fails to find seat on dais, walks out of I-Day function

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, August 16

Bishambar Balmiki, BJP legislator belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, walked out of the Independence Day function organised at the Bhim Stadium in Bhiwani district yesterday after he felt humiliated for not being offered a seat on the dais. However, district administration officials managed to pacify him and he returned to the stage after 10 minutes. He represents the Bawani Khera (reserved) constituency in Bhiwani district.

The incident occurred when Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu, who was the chief guest of the function, was delivering the address. “Mein gulam hun aaj bhi. Mein resign de sakta hu; meri bejjati ki gai stage pe. (I am being treated as a slave even today. I have been humiliated, as I was not given a seat at the stage),” said the MLA when district officials tried to placate him and urging him to return to the stage. He threatened to resign and refused to return to the stage.

District administration officials managed to bring him around and convince him to return to the stage. He was offered a seat beside Bhiwani MLA Ghanshyam Saraf.

Meanwhile, Bishambar’s supporters burnt an effigy of the district administration and the BJP district president in Bawani Khera town today. They alleged that even after 70 years of independence, a Dalit was not treated on a par with other MLAs.

Deputy Commissioner Anshaj Singh released a press statement today saying there was proper seating arrangements at the stage and a seat was reserved for MLA Bishambar Balmiki there. He was denied the seat reserved for him as some BJP activists occupied it. Bishambar did not respond to phone calls made by this correspondent.