Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Sep 12: Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan is hopeful of breaking the ice with various dalit groups. On Monday, after meeting a delegation  of various dalit groups leaders, Khan stated that things are going on right track.

"We held talks in good atmoshpere, it was our first interaction and so we did not jumped to anything. The dalit groups expressed their point and we also satisfied them with our view," said Azam Khan soon after the meeting. As per plan various dalit groups including BAMCEF, Vishwa Shudra Mahasabha (VSM) and Akhil Bhartiya Chamar Mahasangh (ABCM) met Khan at his residence at 7 pm on Monday. The dalit representatives remained tight lipped about the outcome of the meeting.

However, when asked Khan admitted that presently no such talks of supporting in elections were held. "We did not discuss any support or similar talks during our first meeting. However they have expressed their desire to meet us after few days. We will remain in touch but it is too early to comment," he said.

Khan also stated that the dalit groups were disgruntled with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government and the BSP supremo Mayawati. "It is a normal thing that supporters of a party expect that they get returns once the government is formed.

The dalit groups admitted that they were not so much a beneficiary as claimed by the media. They are disenchanted with BSP and we gave them our stand about their development," he said.

Khan claimed that the dalit groups are now looking for a change but it will be too early to comment on a possible SP-Dalit patch up. The BAMCEF is the main dalit group which worked behind the scene to complete the mission of BSP founder Kanshiram. With its cadre in almost every district and government offices, the group had remained loyal to BSP.