Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Terms BJP-Nishad Alliance a 'Family Bond' in Lucknow Speech
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju delivered a significant address at the Nishad Party's Sankalp Diwas celebrations in Lucknow on Tuesday. He described the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Nishad Party as a family alliance. Rijiju assured the gathering that all issues concerning the Nishad Party are also the BJP's issues. He promised they would be resolved together with full support from Delhi.
Rijiju Highlights Role of OBC and SC/ST Communities in Nation Building
During his speech, the Union Minister emphasized the leading role played by Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes and Tribes in building the nation. He spoke at the event where the Nishad Party renews its pledge to secure Scheduled Caste status for sub-castes within the fishermen community of Uttar Pradesh. This day, known as Sankalp Diwas, marks a key moment for the party's longstanding demand.
Nishad Party President Sanjay Nishad Addresses Political Strength and Electoral Setback
Nishad Party president and Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Sanjay Nishad also spoke at the event. He asserted that the fishermen community is not merely a vote bank for any political group. "We do not only know how to catch fish in rivers and ponds, but also how to make and unmake governments," he stated. Sanjay Nishad claimed that since the emergence of the Nishad Party, the community has realized this political truth.
He referenced the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Sant Kabir Nagar, where his son and ally BJP candidate Pravin Nishad faced defeat. Sanjay Nishad declared that those responsible for this loss would be taught a lesson. He urged the BJP to identify and sideline internal elements he blamed for the defeat. According to him, the loss was not due to the strength of the Samajwadi Party but resulted from betrayal within the BJP ranks.
Demands for CBI Inquiries and Historical Context of Sankalp Diwas
Sanjay Nishad further demanded Central Bureau of Investigation inquiries into the murders of Phoolan Devi and Jamuna Nishad. The Nishad Party has been organizing Sankalp Diwas as a demonstration of strength since January 13, 2013. On that date, leaders from the community gathered under the Rashtriya Nishad Ekta Parishad in Gorakhpur. Their primary demands included:
- Inclusion in the Scheduled Caste community.
- Restoration of their traditional sources of livelihood.
Prominent Attendees at the Lucknow Event
The Sankalp Diwas celebrations saw the presence of several notable figures. Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak attended the event. Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar was also present. Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh joined the gathering. Functionaries from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and Apna Dal (S) participated as well, highlighting the event's political significance.
The Nishad Party has maintained its alliance with the BJP since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, the party continues to await the Scheduled Caste status for the 'machhua' community, a core issue that drives its political activism and annual Sankalp Diwas observance.
