This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6032563.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Indian Dalit leader passes away | Indian Dalit leader passes away |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A prominent political leader of the lower-caste Dalits in India, Kanshi Ram, has died at his home in the capital, Delhi. | A prominent political leader of the lower-caste Dalits in India, Kanshi Ram, has died at his home in the capital, Delhi. |
| Mr Ram,72, founded the Bahujan Samaj Party, a regional party which he led along with Mayawati, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state. | |
| He was ailing and bedridden for the past two years, reports say. | He was ailing and bedridden for the past two years, reports say. |
| Mr Ram emerged as the symbol of a growing political role for the Dalits in Indian politics in the 1980s. | Mr Ram emerged as the symbol of a growing political role for the Dalits in Indian politics in the 1980s. |
| Under Mr Ram's leadership, the BSP won 14 parliamentary seats in the 1999 federal elections. | Under Mr Ram's leadership, the BSP won 14 parliamentary seats in the 1999 federal elections. |
| Astute | Astute |
| BSP, founded in 1984, has led the government in the restive and politically crucial northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh several times. | BSP, founded in 1984, has led the government in the restive and politically crucial northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh several times. |
| In 1995, Mayawati, who was groomed by Mr Ram, took over as the first lower-caste Dalit chief minister to head of any of India's state governments. | In 1995, Mayawati, who was groomed by Mr Ram, took over as the first lower-caste Dalit chief minister to head of any of India's state governments. |
| Apart from Uttar Pradesh, BSP has a considerable presence in Punjab as well as the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. | Apart from Uttar Pradesh, BSP has a considerable presence in Punjab as well as the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. |
| Analysts say Mr Ram was an astute politician and was hugely influential among India's Dalits or untouchables. | Analysts say Mr Ram was an astute politician and was hugely influential among India's Dalits or untouchables. |
| Under Mayawati's leadership, the BSP has now toned down its anti-upper-caste rhetoric to broaden its support base, reaching out now to the upper-castes and to Muslims. | Under Mayawati's leadership, the BSP has now toned down its anti-upper-caste rhetoric to broaden its support base, reaching out now to the upper-castes and to Muslims. |