The Congress's "anti-Dalit ideology" necessitated the formation of BSP, and the national party never accorded due respect to Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, BSP chief Mayawati alleged on Saturday (March 14, 2026), questioning Congress's statement that Kanshi Ram will be conferred the Bharat Ratna if it comes to power at the Centre.
In a post in Hindi on X, Ms. Mayawati urged party workers to remain vigilant against what she claimed were attempts by other political parties, especially the Congress, to use Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram's name and weaken the BSP.
"The Congress never gave due honour to Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar -- the messiah of Dalits and the principal architect of the Constitution -- nor did they ever confer upon him the title of Bharat Ratna... How can the same party now honour Kanshi Ram," she said in her post.
Her remarks came a day after a proposal was passed at a 'Samvidhan Sammelan' organised by the Congress in Lucknow, stating that the party would confer the Bharat Ratna on Kanshi Ram if voted to power.
Kanshi Ram's birth anniversary will be observed on Sunday (March 15).
