'Raised political awareness among Bahujans': Rahul Gandhi urges Modi to confer Bharat Ratna on Kanshi Ram

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to confer Dalit icon Kanshi Ram with Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, saying he transformed the nature of Indian politics and raised political awareness among 'Bahujans' and the poor.

Rahul's demand on the occasion the late BSP founder's 92nd birth anniversary through a letter to the Prime Minister in which he also said Kanshi Ram devoted his life to making the promises envisaged in Constitution -- equality, dignity and participation -- meaningful for those at the very bottom of society.

In doing so, he said, Kanshi Ram strengthened the foundations of Indian democracy and made our political system more representative and just. His letter also comes two days after Rahul addressed a 'Samvidhan Sammelan' in Lucknow ahead of the birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram where he said Kanshi Ram would have been made a chief minister from the Congress.

Rahul's repeated references to Kanshi Ram in reverence is seen as an attempt by the Congress to reach out to Dalits, once its core voter base in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere but had shifted to BSP and later to BJP. During the Lok Sabha polls, Rahul's campaign centred around saving Constitution had resonated with Dalits, especially in UP, where the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance saw an impressive win.

With BSP's electoral influence waning, Congress and the Samajwadi Party, which is celebrating Kanshi Ram's birth anniversary as 'PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpasankyak or Backward, Dalit, Minorities) Diwas', are trying to woo Dalits from the leadership of Mayawati.

"As we commemorate the birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram-ji today and reflect on his legacy and contributions, I write with a request that he be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously. Kanshi Ram-ji transformed the nature of Indian politics. Through his movements, he raised political awareness among Bahujans and the poor," he said.

"He reminded them that their vote, voice, and representation are important, and that this country belongs to everyone equally. Because of his efforts, many people who had never considered entering public life began to see politics as a means to achieve justice and equality," he said.

Rahul said conferring the Bharat Ratna on him posthumously would recognise his immense contribution to our nation and honour the aspirations of millions of people who continue to view him as a symbol of empowerment and hope. He said the demand for Bharat Ratna was reiterated strongly by the leaders and participants present at the Lucknow event, reflecting a widespread sentiment.

He also recalled that Dalit intellectuals, leaders and activists have for many years called for Kanshi Ram to be honoured with the Bharat Ratna and their demand has been "consistent and deeply felt".

Earlier, Rahul posted on 'X', "a respectful tribute to the Bahujan icon, Manyavar Kanshi Ram Ji, on his birth anniversary. His tireless struggle and dedication to the rights of the poor, Dalits, and the marginalised serve as an inspiration to us all. He believed that the Constitution is the true strength of Dalits, the backward classes, and the deprived. That very Constitution is under threat today-those who ascended to power by swearing an oath to Babasaheb's Constitution are themselves bent upon undermining it."

"Without a share in power, justice is impossible"-this is the enduring message of Kanshi Ram-Ji's legacy. This dream of social justice shall not remain unfulfilled.The Congress Party has stood-and will always stand-for the participation, dignity, and constitutional rights of the Bahujan community," he added.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the great social reformer accomplished the historic task of organising the Dalits, the deprived, the exploited, and the backward classes, thereby securing for them a dignified place within the mainstream of Indian politics. "His contribution to the struggle for social justice and equality will forever remain a source of inspiration," Kharge posted on 'X'.