A day after announcing to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar as Dalit Diwali, Samajwadi Party President and former Chief Minister of UP, Akhilesh Yadav, announced to set up 'Baba Saheb Vahini' across the state to push the ideology of Dalit icon Dr Ambedkar.
In a tweet on Saturday morning, Yadav said, "To activate the thoughts of the architect of the Constitution, Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, on the occasion of his birth anniversary, we pledge to set up 'Baba Saheb Vahini' of the Samajwadi Party at district, state and country levels to overcome inequality, injustice and achieve the equitable goal of social justice."
Earlier, the SP chief had given a call to celebrate 'Dalit Diwali' on Ambedkar Jayanti.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Yadav said, "The UP assembly polls would be the election of the nation. The Bharatiya Janata Party can stoop to any low to win the elections. That is why we are welcoming everyone to the Samajwadi Party."
"Socialist leader Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Baba Saheb Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar wanted to work together but somehow they could not. If the Samajwadi Party is welcoming those who follow Baba Saheb then why does the BJP and the Congress have a problem," he asked.
"People today are upset as no facilities are being given to them in the BJP rule. There are no medicines in hospitals and the poor have to run from pillar to post for their treatment. People are being administered anti-rabies vaccine instead of anti coronavirus vaccine; such is the condition of health infrastructure in the state in the BJP rule. What was achieved from 'taali' and 'thaali''? This government is running on advertisements and event management," he said.
Meanwhile, the UP Congress slammed the SP for announcing the 'Baba Saheb Vahini'.
Congress leader Manoj Yadav in a statement here on Saturday said that everyone knows about the attitude of SP towards Dalits and how they opposed reservation in promotion issue.    
"It is just a poll gimmick to confuse the Dalits before the UP assembly polls but their conspiracy will fell flat as everyone knows the real face of the SP," he added.