Caste has always been important for electoral politics in Uttar Pradesh. But over the years, it has become a craze in the state to boldly display caste identity on windscreens or number plates of vehicles.
Castes like Yadavs, Jats, Gujjars, Brahmins, Pandits, Khatris, Lodhis, and Mauryas with each other in claiming their dominant social or political status by putting caste and sub-caste name tags on their SUVs, cars, motorcycles, and castes Appear to be competing. Now, the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department has started clamping down on vehicles supporting ‘casteism’.
According to Hindustan, citing an order sent by Additional Transport Commissioner Mukesh Chandra to all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), vehicles displaying caste stickers will now be confiscated.
PMO took cognizance of the case after a letter from Harshal Prabhu, a teacher in Maharashtra. He wrote a letter on IGRS, an integrated system designed to address grievances. Prabhu said that the display of such stickers is a threat to the social fabric of society.
“Such stickers should not be pasted on vehicles. Those found guilty of the crime will have their vehicle confiscated. According to our enforcement teams, every 20th vehicle carries such stickers. Our headquarters has asked us to take action against such vehicle owners, ”DK Tripathi, Deputy Transport Commissioner, Kanpur said
It is said of some people who displayed their particular caste identity on vehicles, during the Samajwadi Party (SP) regime during Mulayam Singh Yadav (2003-07) it became the fashion to drive SUVs and motorcycles with more visibility. . ‘Yadav’ was written on them in bold letters.
Similarly, vehicles with ‘Jatav’ stickers were more visible during Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) rule, even such vehicles can still be seen in some districts, especially in western UP.
Now, there is a new entry into the rivalry of Kshatriya, Thakur or Rajput (different from the same caste) caste as a label on vehicles.