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| Edited By: Kanchan Srivastava |Source: DNA |Updated: Apr 07, 2014, 07:32 AM IST
Prakash Ambedkar, the chief of the Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, is trying his luck from Akola Lok Sabha constituency. The 59-year-old Dalit leader-lawyer, who carries the legacy of his grandfather Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, was elected from the Akola constituency in the 1998 and 1999 elections. But the fight this time is really tough as Ambedkar faces BJP's two-time MP Sanjay Dhotre and Congress's Hidayat Patel, the cooperative movement leader. Amidst his rallies and meetings, Ambedkar spoke to Kanchan Srivastava. Excerpts
What are the major issues in Akola?
Development of Akola city is the prime focus. We need many agro-industries as Akola district produces all raw materials, such as cotton and oil seeds, among others. Lack of jobs is other major issue here.
Your opponent Congress nominee Hidayat Patel called you a 'non-entity'. You are accused of under-performance during your tenure as MP from 1998-2004.
I don't want to comment on what my opponents say, except that Congress has deliberately fielded Patel, despite the skewed Muslim population here. Clearly, Congress is helping the BJP candidate (Sanjay Dhotre) win. Had Congress been serious about Muslims, it would have fielded more Muslim candidates, preferably from South Mumbai, Aurangabad or Malegaon constituencies, where Muslim population is high.
What is your take on Sonia Gandhi's overtures to Muslim clerics, seeking all "secular" votes for the Congress?
Muslims have always been poll propaganda for Congress. The party would never like Muslims to be elected for Parliament because, if they becomes politically empowered, they wouldn't need Congress's backing.
Why did the Dalit movement in Maharashtra die down?
It didn't die down. In fact, every political party strategically projected one person as its Dalit leader. None of them are mass leaders and, hence, the movement declined.
Who do you think is the real Dalit leader in the state?
I am the only Dalit leader in Maharashtra. My party holds zilla parishad and municipal council.
Why don't you consolidate the RPI factions to bring Ramdas Athawale (chief of RPI-A) and others under one umbrella?
Athawale has no base. Ask him how many votes he polled last election. None of his candidates has ever polled more than 10,000 votes in any election.
