Prominent Dalit activist and state convenor of Karnataka Dalita Sanghatanegala Okkuta (Karnataka Dalit Organisations Association) BR Bhaskar Prasad joined the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), along with other well-known AHINDA activists on Friday in Bengaluru’s KG Halli.
Speaking on the occasion, Prasad said that, “when I announced my decision to join SDPI, many people asked me why I want to join a ‘Muslim party’, to which my reply is that SDPI is a democratic and social party and not a religious party. And I strongly believe that the problems of Muslims and Dalits in this country can only be resolved through Dalit-Muslim unity.”
Prasad also read out a message of his mentor, Karnataka High Court Advocate and former Chairman of Backward Classes Commission CS Dwarkanath, who he said was instrumental in him joining the party. “Dwarkanath sir is happy that I am joining SDPI and not a party dominated by Upper Castes. He said this is the time Muslims, Dalits and other oppressed classes should unite politically. He said those who think that a person with a skull cap and beard is a terrorist will never vote for me. He advised me to not waste my time on people who are criticising me and instead work for the people in the slums, mohallas and villages.”
Prasad praised the cadres of SDPI, who during the lockdown performed the last rites of deceased COVID patients irrespective of their religions when their own family members had abandoned them due to fear of COVID-19 transmission or were unable to collect the body. “I want to work day and night with these activists,” he said.
SDPI president Abdul Hanna said, “SDPI is working at the grassroots in villages, and in taluks. This is the party which gives genuine political platform for grassroots activists.”
SDPI’s national general secretary and the party’s Tamil Nadu elections in-charge K.H. Abdul Majeed asked party workers to learn from history. “When BJP started out, it only had two MPs in the parliament. Today, they are governing the country. If we work hard, there is nothing that would stop us from achieving the same. In Tamil Nadu, every party offered us to join their alliance. This was possible only because of our hard work and our values”.
SDPI general secretaries Afsar Kodlipet, Mujahid and Women India Movement’s Syed Sadia, state secretary Mahboob Sheriff, Advocate Tahir were the other leaders who spoke at the event.
Retired KAS officer KL Vasant Kumar, Karnataka Adijambava Development Association secretary Ramesh Kumar, Karnataka State Dalits association Kamala Nagar vice president Govind Raju, Social worker Siddaraju, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Kranti Sene state president Mohammed Haneef, Social Worker Amaanulla and many other leaders joined SDPI in the presence of National & State leaders.
