http://www.expressindia.com/newsline/daily/20001013/ige13135.htm
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

LUDHIANA, OCT 12: Addressing a Valmiki sammelan at Daresi Ground here today, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Kanshi Ram has demanded that name of the temple Ram Tirath in Amritsar be changed and it should be renamed as Valmiki Tirath. He said the possession of the temple be handed over to the Valmiki Samaj and hoped that in view of sentiments of the Valmiki Samaj, the government would accept the demand.

He said the temple was a place of worship for the Valmikis but at present it was under possession of `Manuvadis'. He said the Bahujan Samaj should get united after breaking chains of casteism and work for its upliftment. He added that there was a need to get free the Bahujan Samaj from the clutches of `Manuvadis'.

The BSP chief said if people belonging to the Bahujan Samaj wanted to protect their rights, they must use the right of franchise. He added that the Bahujan Samaj had great power in their hands because a majority of the voters across the country belonged to the Bahujan Samaj. He regretted that the Samaj had not been taking full benefit of the right to vote.

Kanshi Ram said that about a decade ago the BSP had started a campaign against casteism and added that gradually, it had strengthened its basis in the country and especially in Uttar Pradesh. He added that the BSP was always ready to contest elections in UP where it did not need alliance from any political party.

Giving an indication of his political target, Kanshi Ram said the party had a plan to form its government independently at the Centre.

Later, he led a massive `shobha yatra' taken out in connection with `Pragat Utsva' of Valmiki.