Leaders across parties pay tribute to Kanshi Ram on birth anniversary

Leaders from across the political spectrum on Sunday paid tributes to B ahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary, remembering his contribution to social justice and the political empowerment of Dalits and other marginalized communities.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Kanshi Ram dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of the Dalits, the exploited and the deprived. Describing him as a pioneer of social justice and the founder of the BSP, the chief minister paid his respects to the late leader on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also remembered Kanshi Ram as a staunch champion of social justice and a strong voice for the rights of the deprived and exploited sections of society. He said Kanshi Ram’s life of struggle, guided by the ideals of equality, self-respect and social awareness, continues to inspire people to remain vigilant about justice and their rights. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also paid tributes to the BSP founder.

BSP president Mayawati paid homage to Kanshi Ram and described him as the founder and architect of the party who dedicated his life to advancing the ideas and movement of B R Ambedkar. She said Kanshi Ram worked tirelessly to strengthen the movement for social justice and to achieve political power for the Bahujan community.

Reiterating her commitment to strengthening the BSP’s “Social Transformation and Economic Liberation” movement , Mayawati called upon members of the Bahujan community to unite and work towards achieving political power. She urged people to follow the principles of Ambedkar and ensure that the constitutional rights granted to the marginalized are implemented at the grassroots level.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also paid tribute to Kanshi Ram and described him as a hero of social change who worked tirelessly for the empowerment of marginalised sections.

Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) national president and Nagina MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad hailed Kanshi Ram for awakening and mobilising communities that had long remained marginalised and voiceless in the country’s political system.

Earlier this week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that if India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had been alive, Kanshi Ram would have been made a chief minister from the Congress. Speaking at the Samvidhan Sammelan in Lucknow, Gandhi said Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram never compromised on their principles.

Born on March 15, 1934, in Rupnagar in Punjab, Kanshi Ram devoted his life to the upliftment and political mobilisation of backward and marginalised communities. He founded the All India Backwards and Minorities Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) in 1971 and the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti in 1981 before establishing the BSP in 1984.

Kanshi Ram was elected to the Lok Sabha from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh in 1991 and from Hoshiarpur in Punjab in 1996 . He later served as a Rajya Sabha member from 1998 to 2004.

He passed away in Delhi on October 9, 2006, at the age of 71 , leaving behind a lasting legacy in the struggle for social justice and political representation of the marginalized.