NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jitin Prasada has written an open letter to all MLAs of Uttar Pradesh asking them to raise the issue of Brahmins' security during the Assembly session commencing Thursday.
"I appeal to all MLAs to rise above party to raise the issue of the Brahmin security and exploitation of the community and crime against Brahmins of your area in the Assembly," Prasada wrote in his open letter.
The Brahmins are key to the revival of the Congress, so the party is trying to woo the community which had been traditional Congress voters in the eighties but drifted away after the party lost its sheen.
The Congress, sensing the unrest in the community against the current government, has started to reach out to the community which has a strong presence in the state.
Jitin Prasada through his 'Brahmin Chetna Parishad', has been instrumental in making Brahmins' security a major issue. After this, almost all the parties have tried to raise the issue.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati was successful in stitching together an umbrella alliance within communities, including the Brahmins in 2007, which catapulted her to the Chief Minister's chair with a clear majority in the Assembly. But later the Brahmins allied with the BJP. Due to some recent events, the community is said to be miffed with the Yogi government.
When the BJP leaders announced that economically weaker Brahmins will get insurance, Mayawati was the first to raise the issue of their security, saying "Before insurance Brahmins need security and respect in the state."
This statement came after BJP leader Umesh Dwivedi on Monday claimed that the party will provide medical insurance to poor Brahmins in the state. Reacting to it, Prasada said, "All Brahmins need security." (IANS)
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