Analysis/ Uttar Pradesh: Politics of Division Behind the Clash

Surender Singhal
Saharanpur is on the target of anti-Hindu elements for about three weeks. Since 38 per cent of the total population are Mulsims and 30 per cent are Dalits, there have been attempts to play the Muslim-Dalit card. For success for this card, there have been attempts to divide the society. But, in the recent Assembly polls all such cards failed. This disturbed the political parties which have been enjoying benefits of the Muslim-Dalit unity.
There are pre-planned efforts in the District to disturb the atmosphere. Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath has taken the matter seriously and he has deputed top bureaucrats to restore normalcy. Despite some differences on minor issues the society in the district has been united. But during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls people irrespective of caste and communities rallied with Shri Narendra Modi. After the Lok Sabha polls, now in Assembly polls also they trusted the leadership of Shri Modi. “Distrubed over these victories there are elements which want to break this unity of the Hindus. The unity is must if the people really want development,” says Thakur Vikram Singh, a local Rajput leader. Devendra Nim, who has been elected to Assembly from Rampur Maniharan seat and belongs to SC community says, “All communities of Hindus have voted for him. That is why the BSP MLA Ravindra Molhu was defeated.” He also says that his victory has foiled the game plans of local Muslim leaders like Imran Masood and Rashid Masood. The recent clashes are the outcome of that frustration also.
A section of Muslim fundamentalists has been working for some time to revive the Muslim-Dalit unity by forming a Dalit-Muslim alliance. But they could not succeed. The new outfit known as Bhim Sena is nothing but the group of some misguided Dalit youth. This has been formed to unite the Dalits. But in fact it is making all efforts to divide the Dalits.  
Finding evidences against the Bhim Sena for these clashes the local administration has declared it illegal. The police investigation reveals that the organisation is not registered and has been engaged in misguiding the youth. The administration is also investigating its bank accounts. The police have filed a case against Ravindra Molhu and founder of Bhim Sena Chandra Shekhar. The police say that Chandra Shekhar has been trying to gather support of some suspicious organisations also after the May 9 incident. “Bhim Sena and its founder Chandra Shekhar do not have fair intentions. They are tyring to mislead the Dalits for their vested interests,” says Dalit thinker Vinod Kumar Tejiyan.