NEW DELHI, 10 October 2006 — Hundreds of party workers gathered in the capital city yesterday to pay their homage to Bahujan Samaj Party founding member Kanshi Ram who passed away yesterday morning. Suffering from multiple ailments like stroke, diabetes and hypertension, Ram, 72, had been bedridden for more than two years.
“According to Kanshi Ramji’s wishes, his mortal remains will not be immersed in any river but will be kept at the party offices in Lucknow and Delhi,” BSP chief Mayawati said. Ram had declared Mayawati as his “political heir” at a huge political rally in December 2001 and since then she has been the party president. Himself of dalit (low caste) Sikh background, Ram founded BSP in 1984 to champion interests of Dalits.
Earlier in 1978, Ram launched an organization — Dalit Shoshit Sangharsh Samiti — for protecting interests of Dalit workers in government. Ram and Mayawati brought BSP to power in Uttar Pradesh in 1995, with the latter taking over as state chief minister. Ram was a member of the 11th Lok Sabha (1996-97).
Ram worked as a “crusader for the cause of dalit rights” and he “exhorted dalits to lead a life of self-respect and honor and fought against Manuwadi forces,” said Mayawati. “He left his government job and remained a bachelor to actively fight for dalits’ rights,” she said.
