Bahraich MP and Dalit leader Savitribai Phule resigns from BJP

She says she will launch an agitation to champion the cause of Dalits from December 23, adds that the “country needs a Constitution not a temple.”

Savitribai Phule said her objective was to get the Constitution implemented in letter and spirit.

Dalit leader and BJP MP from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh Savitribai Phule on Thursday resigned from the party, accusing it of dividing society on communal lines and 'plotting to finish the Constitution and provisions of reservation'.  

The MP said the BJP government was trying to erase the "history of Bahujan and minority" and spending "unnecessarily" on building statues and temples, instead on development. 

Ms. Phule's announcement comes on the death anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar, December 6, which is also the day the Babri Masjid in Ayohdha was demolished in 1992. 

While referring to both, Ms. Phule said the VHP, the RSS and the BJP were trying to recreate the situation of 1992 and dividing society on communal lines. She was resigning in commemoration of themasjid demolition, which "hurt the feelings of Muslims, Dalits and Backwards,",as well as the ''parinirvan diwas'' of Bhimrao Ambedkar. 

"Instead of ensuring development, they are stoking fears of Hindu-Muslim, India- Pakistan, mandir-masjid, and spreading hate and destroying communal brotherhood," Ms.Phule told journalists at an event organised by the Namo Budhay Sewa Samiti on Dr. Ambedkar. 

"I resigned becsuse the RSS and the BJP are fully prepared to finishing off the Constitution made by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and reservation," she said.

Listing out the reasons for her resignation from the BJP, Ms. Phule, who was first elected as a BJP MLA in 2012 from the reserved seat of Bansi, and then as a MP in 2014, said she had nothing to do with the party anymore.  "MPs and ministers of the current government are spreading communal strife and tearing the constitution to shreds," she said. 

She cited "threat to reservation, failure of the government to punish those involved in burning the Constitution and raising slogans against Baba Sahab in August" for her resignation. She said, "Some people want to run this country on the 'manusmriti', and don't follow the Constitution".

Ms. Phule promisedg to launch a campaign form December 23 for the implementation of the Constitution and for the rights of Dalits and OBCs.