Sangh Parivar drops Ram Mandir, woos Ambedkar

Abhishek Patni / CNN-IBN


PLAYING POLITICS: The saffron parties are dropping the Ram Mandir issue to woo Ambedkar instead.

PLAYING POLITICS: The saffron parties are dropping the Ram Mandir issue to woo Ambedkar instead.

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Ayodhaya: As Brahmins drift towards the BSP, the saffron parties are dropping the Ram Mandir issue to woo Ambedkar instead.

It is the first time that Sangh Parivar has openly admitted that Ambedkar matters. A book with Bhimrao Ambedkar on the back cover and Lord Ram on the front is freely being distributed at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir Nirman Karyashala.

The politics is obvious. As Brahmins drift to the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Sangh wants to counter the trend by wooing Dalits.

And if it is difficult to reach out to them with Lord Ram, Ambedkar can be of help. Taking a cue from Mayawati's social engineering, the BJP and the Parivar groups are trying to bring together Dalits and Brahmins. In fact, VHP has gone to the extent of saying that there's not much difference between Brahmins and Shudras.

At Karyashala, artisans laboured day in and day out carving stones for the Ram Temple which was never built. However, it is here that the Sangh is now chanting Ambedkar's name.

“If Lord Ram tried to remove untouchability from society, the same role was played by Ambedkar,” says Chief Spokesperson, VHP, Uttar Pradesh, Sharad Sharma.

Many people like Raja Ram Harihan, a sweeper in the Ram Mandir Niram Karyashala, who nurtured his dream for a temple, now worships Ambedkar.

“We are happy that Ambedkar's photo has come with Lord Rama,” says Dalit Kar Sewak, Raja Ram Harijan.

Sharad Sharma asserts that every one was a Hindu initially. “Castes came in later and now some political parties are using Ambedkar's name for their vested interests,” he adds.

As the Lok Sabha elections come closer, BJP and its saffron brigade seems to have realised that chanting Ram naam alone would not fetch them votes. It is clear that if they have to pose any serious challenge to Mayawati, Ambedkar must find his name next to Lord Rama.