Ex-Mayor cautions Dalits against dynastic politics

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 14

After the Valmiki-Mazhbi community leaders expressed resentment against the certain ad-dharmi leaders of the Congress for not lobbying against singer Hans Raj Hans’ inclusion in the list for Rajya Sabha, senior Congress leader and former Jalandhar Mayor Surinder Mahey, who belongs to Ravidassia community, on Monday too joined the coterie of agitated leaders and urged the Congress high command not to let certain select Dalit families of Doaba to proliferate family politics culture.

Former Mayor categorically said such leaders were trying to divide the Valmiki-Mazhbi and Ad-dharmi community in Doaba to gain score for their families in politics.

He threatened that community would protest if in the coming Assembly elections, selected families were given tickets by ignoring the young Dalit leadership.

Pertinently, a few days ago, a city Valmiki Sabha president, Amrit Khosla, had named ‘Ad-dharmi’ leaders of Doaba namely sitting Jalandhar MP Santokh Chaudhary, ex-Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee, ex- Hoshiarpur MP Santosh Chaudhary, for lobbying against Hans and threatened to launch a ‘Congress Bhajao, Desh Bachao’ campaign if Hans was not given respected role in the party.

Although the Valmiki leader Khosla had openly named the abovesaid Ad-dharmi leaders for promoting family politics, but agitated ex-Mayor Mahey pacified without naming the Dalit leaders and only said he too was against such Dalit families of Doaba and party high command should think over the issue if want to gain politically in Doaba in the coming elections.

He asserted that Congress had enjoyed win in Doaba for three decades but in the last two terms, Congress faced huge debacle due to the tickets given to the select families in Doaba, who have meager contribution for the society.

When contacted, Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary said, “Families which have been contributing for the party is being given the duo weightage by high command and no party leader is trying to divide any community in Doaba. Ticket distribution is the only discretion of high command and every Congressman should accept the decision.”