In what is seen as an attempt at Dalit outreach ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday unveiled a statue of freedom fighter and four-time Congress MP Mahashay Masuriyadin Pasi in his birthplace, Prayagraj. The move brings a largely forgotten Dalit leader associated with the Congress back into the spotlight, while also giving Adityanath an opportunity to target the party.
Unveiling the statue at Teliarganj crossing, the chief minister highlighted Masuriyadin’s role in the freedom struggle and his association with former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
He also asked the mayor to submit a proposal to name a prominent institution in Prayagraj after him and install a grand statue there. He also referred to plans for an equestrian statue of the freedom fighter. The government, beyond unveiling statues, needs to ensure people from these communities get the safety and rights they are currently deprived of.”
The chief minister said Masuriyadin, born on October 2, 1911, was elected to the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly in 1946 and went on to become a four-time MP between 1952 and 1972. He recalled that Masuriyadin and Nehru were elected from the same constituency in 1952, when one seat returned two MPs.
Announcing further recognition for the leader, the chief minister said Teliarganj crossing, where the statue was installed, would be named after Masuriyadin. Political scientist and former Allahabad University professor MP Dube said Masuriyadin was a prominent Dalit leader and a close associate of Nehru. The BJP’s emphasis on his association with the former PM, Dube said, could also challenge the Congress’s claim to the legacy of the freedom struggle. Adityanath said his government had restored Bijli Pasi’s fort in Lucknow and was developing a women’s PAC battalion in Uda Devi’s name. “The BJP, Samajwadi Party and Congress have all invoked Pasi icons in their Dalit outreach,” Dube said, adding that the commemoration offered an opportunity to link the community’s historical contributions with contemporary political representation. Reacting to Adityanath’s announcements, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhna Mishra said, “Remembering icons is a good thing, but the fact remains that in Uttar Pradesh, according to the NCRB data, the highest number of crimes are recorded against Dalit and Pasi community people.
