Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) (translation: Free Society Party (Kanshi Ram)); abbr.ASP(KR)), commonly known as Azad Samaj Partyabbr.ASP), is an Indian registered unrecognised political party in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was founded by Chandrashekhar Azad.[3][4]
The Azad Samaj Party's origins lie in the Bhim Army founded by Chandra Shekhar Aazad in 2015 to protect constitutional rights and oppose caste oppression.[5][6] The group formed after reports of discrimination and caste-based violence faced by Dalit students at AHP Inter-college in Uttar Pradesh, and the Bhim Army then helped protect the Dalit students.[7][6]
Azad gained attention after publicly posting a sign which read "The Great Chamar of Dhadkauli Welcome You."[5][6] Upper-caste Rajputs were upset with the Dalit celebration of identity and objected to the erection of the board.[8] But, the Bhim Army intervened and ensure that the Thakurs did not unleash any violence.[8] In another incident, the Rajputs prevented a Dalit groom from riding a horse to his wedding.[8] Yet again, the Bhim Army intervened and escorted the groom.[8]
The Bhim Army attained national prominence after clashes in Uttar Pradesh.[9] In June 2017, the group's leader Chandrashekhar, a lawyer, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force.[10] Chandrashekhar was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in November 2017, but the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath continued to detain him under the National Security Act until it dropped the NSA order in September 2018 and acquitted Chandrashekhar from jail.[11] Chandrashekhar describes himself as a representative of Bahujan identity and a follower of Kanshi Ram.
In August 2019, the Bhim Army took part in nationwide Dalit protests against the demolition of Shri Guru Ravidas Gurughar, a temple dedicated to Sant Ravidas in Tughlaqabad, Delhi, on the orders of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), following lengthy litigation between the DDA and Guru Ravidas Jainti Samaroh Samiti.[13] Dozens of people, including Chandrashekhar and Vinay Ratan, were arrested by police, prompting the Bhim Army to demand their release.[14]
In March 2020, Chandrashekhar announced that the Bhim Army would formally enter electoral politics. The group previously operated as a quasi-political force. Chandrashekhar stated that "We tried to join hands and work unitedly with the Bahujan Samaj Party but its leader was unwilling to do so." Chandrashekhar said the new political party would set up an office in Lucknow and work to counter the ruling BJP. Chandrashekhar has described the BJP as his chief political adversary, but has also competed with Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party.[15]
The Bhim Army opposes the BJP's Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) legislation[16] In January and February 2020, the Bhim Army engaged in the protests against the CAA and sought its repeal.[17][18] In February 2020, street clashes took place between pro-CAA BJP supporters and Bhim Army supporters in connection with the North East Delhi riots; both sides engaged in stone-pelting.[19]
