Nitish way to 'emancipate' dalits

The hoisting of the national flag took place in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at Phulwarisharif, on the outskirts of the state capital.

Some of the residents of the Dalit tola could not hold back their tears after their elder-most member was given the privilege to unfurl tricolour in the presence of host of dignitaries, including senior ministers and bureaucrats.

Nitish personally visited the Balapur Mushari tola to celebrate Independence Day with the most neglected lot in the Dalit community.

This was part of the concerted attempts made by Nitish to emancipate the Mahadalits from the shackles of deprivation and ignorance.

Confidence-building

“This was for the first time that the Mahadalits got a chance to celebrate Independence Day with such enthusiasm and revelry. Their involvement will give a big boost to their confidence,” said Shyam Razak, the Phulwarisharif MLA and a minister in the Nitish’s cabinet.

Elsewhere, too, the government organised Independence Day celebrations in Mahadalit tolas, and ensured that a large chunk of ministers and bureaucrats attended it so that the oppressed section relish something big on the occasion.
 
Ironically, the self-styled Dalit leader of Bihar Ram Vilas Paswan had never ever shown such magnanimity towards this oppressed class.

Political observers feel that this was Nitish’s style to thank the Mahadalits and other poor sections who stood by him during the assembly elections and helped him completely wipe out Lalu and Paswan.