After the Tehelka sting, Bangaru Laxman was disowned, condemned, banished and isolated.
The Prime Minister just attacked the Congress party for humiliating its once-president Sitaram Kesri, a “Dalit”. Besides the fact that Kesri wasn’t a Dalit but a bania, albeit from a sub-caste defined as OBC in Bihar, we need to check how the BJP treated its only Dalit president so far.
His name was Bangaru Laxman. Remember him, from those Tehelka tapes?
In an earlier National Interest, we had looked at his fate subsequent to his being caught in the Tehelka expose, and compared it with another of his party colleagues, caught similarly.
Also read: Are leaders from ‘lower’ castes and subaltern groups more corrupt?
So, two of its senior leaders were caught on camera accepting cash at different points in time. One, Dilip Singh Judeo, caught taking Rs 9 lakh in 2003 was of a high caste, and was happily rehabilitated, fielded in an election again. He returned to Parliament, a respectable man. He had, in fact, been caught on camera speaking that immortal line a Bollywood script-writer will someday copy for his mafioso: “Paisa khuda toh nahin, lekin khuda ki kasam khuda se kam bhi nahin (cash isn’t God, but by God, it is no less than God)”.
He was a junior minister in the Vajpayee government then and said this while killing a bottle of Black Label with the bribe-giver. All on camera.
The other, Bangaru Laxman, was caught taking just Rs 1 lakh in the Tehelka sting (2001). Compared to Judeo who was a mere junior minister, Bangaru was the BJP’s national president, no less. It’s just that he was a Dalit, the first – and until now the only – Dalit to rise that high in BJP.
Also read: Congress calls out PM Modi for latest gaffe—Sitaram Kesri was OBC, not Dalit
He was disowned, condemned, banished and isolated. He went to jail and died (on 1 March 2014) fighting the charges in that Tehelka sting case all by himself. He died totally unsung, as badly ignored in death as P.V. Narasimha Rao by the Congress.
It’s an unfortunate description but it must be used: the party treated him as an expendable outcast even as it continued to defend Judeo. Even corruption in our politics has a caste differential. The BJP needs to look within first.
I’m actually so happy that someone is working on a biography of savarkar. Much needed. I’ve never bought this simple argument that condemns savarkar because of his mercy petitions. Sadly politicians and the wider public know very little history and keep talking based on their little knowledge. Very frustrating, but also means historians need to engage more. After spending 27 (or was it 37?) years in prison, a mercy petition to the British is understandable. I also agree with the more nuanced picture this article provides. Including his work on caste. At the same time, it’s true that savarkar worked to remove caste to unify a Hindu nation, and that this nation excluded non-hindus who equally belonged to India. Muslims and Christians were not included by him into his nation, unless they gave up their religion and culture. Also, Savarkar, as president of Hindu Mahasabha, wished it to “hinduise politics” and “militarise hindudom” – himself an atheist, he wanted to mix Hindu religion and politics, and wanted to militarise Hindus. He was extremely attracted to violence for political ends – this was earlier meant for the British (which landed him in jail for so many years, because he directly inspired Madanlal Dhingra who assassinated Wyllie), but continued later where he sanctioned to use of Hindus against whom he thought were their permanent enemies the Muslims. His vision of “history” was also marked by endless war between hindus and Muslims, and ofcourse since it was so politivated by the ideological project of creating a Hindu nation – did not take into account a proper and richer account of India’s ancient or medieval past.
About loyalism towards the British, more than the mercy petition, in fact what might show his loyalism is that I’m pretty certain the entire Hindu Mahasabha remained British loyalists, while the INC was leading a mass struggle of civil disobedience. The earlier Mahasabhites like Lajpat Rai and Malaviya were anti-British. But I think under Savarkar HMS was loyal to the British. Pretty sure about this, but need to recheck.
Another point – author is right to point out that INC proclaimed loyalty to British in 1914. But 1916 both INC and the Muslim League joined to demand selfgovt in Lucknow Pact. 1918 onwards there were huge mass movements like never before – led by Gandhi and the INC. 1918 Rowlatt agitation, and 1920 there was the non-cooperation movement, for which everyone from Lajpat Rai, Motilal Nehru, Jawarlal Nehru, to Maulana Azad to Ali brothers to Gandhi went to jail!
Caste is everything and corruption, which is one of the biggest industry is no exception.
Leave it, Shekhar ji. Your example is inappropriate, exaggerated, misleading and misplaced! I however respect you for your integrity, values and contribution in general.
how did the media slams bjps dalit president for corruption that exists in every party ? did bjp have an alternative ? Bangaru L was caught on candid cam with black money donations .. which was rampant during indira era , i know how honest officers in govt depts like cag were shunted out to a minor posting because he was honest and didnt accept a bribe of a 2bhk flat to change his findings he increased govt revenue by a crore a yr to the detriment of the loyal congress supporters who donated a large amt of black money made through cheating the govt !!
Bangaru Lakshman was party president. His crime far bigger than a junior minister.
It does not justify Judeo’s reinstatement though!
And Shekharji, you are far more informed of the Congress’ army of thieves. Alibaba had only 40!
Shekhar ji in new AVTAR. Of late you are switching. I know you always go with wind, which is against Journalism ethics. Wah Shekhar ji.
On par with Salim – Javed at their peak. Makes Mere paas maan hai sound almost petulant, childish.