New DelhiSeptember 24, 2025 05:00 PM IST
First published on: Sep 24, 2025 at 05:00 PM IST
The Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to ban caste-based political rallies, along with a court-ordered bar on public displays of caste names on vehicles and signboards, and mention of caste in police records, has triggered a war of words between the ruling BJP and the Opposition. The move is expected to have political implications ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with all UP-based parties drawing their strength from specific caste groups.
While the government has said that caste-based political rallies are a “threat to public order” and “national unity”, the Opposition has said the order is likely to “turn into another mechanism to harass us”.
Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) chief and Nagina Lok Sabha MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad, considered an emerging voice in the Dalit community, speaks to The Indian Express about the order, its implications, and the UP government’s “intentions”. Excerpts:
* How do you see the UP government order banning caste-based rallies?
This is a very serious issue. Has the government done any research on this by appointing a committee, or does the government have some intelligence inputs? In a state where before elections, temples are constructed on the basis of castes… in a state where if a fellow caste person isn’t found for the post of DGP (Director General of Police), the post is either left vacant or filled with a working DGP… in a state where the CM is accused of giving opportunities to people from his caste… suddenly, this order is passed.
I agree that privileges should not be enjoyed based on caste, and that politics should not be based on caste. But we must understand the government’s intention… If something is done with an honest motive, then it should yield good results. But what is the motive behind this? I am not sure. The government should tell in the coming days if they are scared of a movement, or if they have realised Babasaheb’s vision for a casteless society, which we also believe in.
* What do you see as the implications of this order on state and national politics? Several parties in UP have a significant base among different castes.
There are many laws, but they are only implemented when it comes to people in the Opposition, not the government. For example, we can’t get permission for religious programmes, but people in the government can take out any yatra. Through this, if the government’s intention is to stop some parties from mobilising people from some castes, then it will also harm NDA allies – like Om Prakash Rajbhar (of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party), Sanjay Nishad (of NISHAD Party), and Apupriya Patel (of Apna Dal-Soneylal)… If anyone will face consequences of this, it will be the allies. I will show a mirror to the government… I feel the Supreme Court should pass an order. This should be done across the country – everyone should remove their surnames… I will do it first, but even if we do, then those who benefit from (caste) won’t do it. My people will do it first.
* The government says this decision has been taken keeping ‘public order’ and ‘national unity’ in mind.
The government should answer this. The state government has been sleeping for eight years… If it has something to do with national unity, then the Centre should do it. I would have agreed to this if the Centre had taken the decision. Those who never gave justice to the underprivileged… are now talking of all this – a government that constitutes its Cabinet based on caste combinations. That is why I talk of the intentions of the government.
* The government says this order will reduce caste discrimination.
Caste discrimination will end when the government starts working on the principles of social justice, when the government starts respecting all the communities to create an egalitarian society… when police stations have people from a cross-section of societies. You look at police stations and you will find Sharma ji, Pandey ji… There was a protest near Ballia where it was said that ‘Singh’ surname can only be used by people of a specific caste. The destruction of caste has to be done by following the principles in the book ‘Annihilation of Caste’ (by B R Ambedkar). The CM says he was born in a certain kul (clan), where God was also born. It is worrying when he says something and does something else. There is too big a difference in his actions and words.