Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday with a formal request to posthumously award the Bharat Ratna to Kanshi Ram, the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In a letter shared on the social media platform X, the Leader of the Opposition argued that such a gesture would honour the deep-seated aspirations of millions who still look to the late leader as a definitive symbol of hope and social empowerment.
Gandhi noted that Kanshi Ram effectively reshaped the landscape of Indian politics by fostering a sense of agency among the poor and the Bahujan community. He also credited the BSP founder with reminding that votes marginalised and voices carry equal weight in a democracy. As explained by a former Congress president, it was this tireless advocacy that motivated individuals who had previously seen themselves as outside of politics to embrace it as a means to achieve justice.
The appeal also highlighted a long-standing demand from Dalit activists and intellectuals. Gandhi mentioned that during a recent event in Lucknow, the call for this high national honour was particularly resonant. By conferring the Bharat Ratna, he suggested, the government would be recognising a man who dedicated his life to making the constitutional promises of dignity and participation a reality for those at the very bottom of the social hierarchy.
However, the move has not been met with universal praise. BSP chief Mayawati hit back at the Congress, labelling their sudden advocacy as opportunistic. She pointed out that the Congress has a history of being "anti-Dalit," noting that they failed to accord proper respect to Dr B.R. Ambedkar during their long years in power. She warned her supporters to remain wary of attempts by other parties to co-opt Kanshi Ram’s legacy simply to weaken the BSP’s influence.
Despite the political friction, Gandhi maintained that the struggle for social justice remains unfinished. He used the occasion of Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary to claim that the Constitution is currently under threat from those in power. Reaffirming his party’s commitment to the cause, he insisted that the Congress would continue to fight for the representation and constitutional rights of the Bahujan community.
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