At the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit distributed copies of the Constitution to sanitation workers, calling it a celebration of unity. The gesture is part of the party’s nationwide campaign, “Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan,” to mark 75 years of the Indian Constitution.
The BJP’s efforts included garlanding sanitation workers and honoring them with Constitution copies. Uttar Pradesh BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra criticized opposition parties, saying, “We came here to honor those reduced to mere vote banks by non-BJP parties. Now, with a strong, sensitive leader, the change is evident.”
Mishra said that the Maha Kumbh represents unity, a value enshrined in the Constitution. “Our party reveres Dalits and OBCs. The Maha Kumbh is a great celebration of unity, which our Constitution guarantees,” he added.
However, critics accuse the BJP of using symbolic gestures to divert attention from substantive issues. Opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), have challenged the BJP’s track record on social justice.
The Congress plans to hold a rally titled “Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan” on January 27 to highlight the BJP’s alleged failures in safeguarding constitutional values. BSP chief Mayawati, who has faced political setbacks, accused the BJP of undermining B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy. Meanwhile, the SP is installing a bust of its founder, Mulayam Singh Yadav, at the Kumbh to honour the late OBC leader.
Political observer Sudhir Panwar noted the BJP’s precarious position, particularly on the issue of a caste census. “The BJP faces a big dilemma as opposition parties and even some of its OBC allies are united on this issue,” Panwar said.
This is not the first time the BJP has used the Kumbh Mela for outreach. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of Dalit sanitation workers, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ran schools for them. Days before this year’s event, Modi described the Kumbh as an “Ekta ka Mahakumbh (a Maha Kumbh of unity),” while Adityanath called it a “Samajik Samta Ka Mahaparv (a mega festival of social equality).”
The BJP’s push also includes celebrating the Nishad community, an influential OBC group. A giant statue of Lord Ram embracing Nishad Raj, unveiled by Modi, underscores this focus.
Despite the BJP’s outreach, opposition leaders question the party’s sincerity. Critics highlight its refusal to back a caste census and its reliance on symbolic gestures rather than structural reforms.
A senior RSS leader defended the BJP’s stance, saying, “You can draw your own political narratives, but the Kumbh is a classic example of caste harmony. That is the unity the prime minister must have been referring to.”
