{
  "id": 3861653,
  "title": "Haryana’s Dalit shift: How BJP is building a broader Hindu identity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/haryanas-dalit-shift-how-bjp-is-building-a-broader-hindu-identity",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T01:30:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/karnal-encounter-haryanas-dalit-shift-how-bjp-is-building-a-broader-hindu-identity-10852608/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Karnal, Haryana, the slogans \"Jai Bhim, Jai Balmiki, Jai Shree Ram\" emerged following the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Biru Balmiki by bike-borne assailants on August 5. The swift police response with the death of two alleged shooters from the upper-caste Ror community sparked protests and solidarity from Dalit representatives, showcasing a shift in power dynamics. This contrasts to the 2025 case of Ganesh Valmiki in Hisar, where police inaction led to an 11-day delay in cremation amid protests. The BJP, which came to power in Haryana in 2014, has pursued a caste engineering strategy, consolidating non-Jat and non-dominant Dalit groups, particularly Balmikis. Scheduled Castes (SCs) make up about a fifth of Haryana's population, with Jatavs forming the largest bloc and Balmikis among the largest of the rest. The BJP's strategy has gained momentum, with post-poll data from the 2024 Haryana elections showing a shift in voter preferences. The party has not only emphasized caste assertion but also integrated it into a broader Hindu identity, using slogans and invoking Lord Ram. This strategy, rooted in the RSS's calls for unity in a Hindu framework, aims to bring together diverse Dalit communities under the broader Hindu identity. The success of this approach remains to be seen, but it marks a significant shift in Haryana's political landscape.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "BJP's caste engineering strategy consolidates non-Jat and non-dominant Dalit groups in Haryana.",
    "BJP integrated caste assertion into a broader Hindu identity using slogans and Lord Ram references."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The BJP's strategy of integrating Dalit groups, particularly Balmikis, into a broader Hindu identity signals a shift in Haryana's power dynamics, potentially altering the state's political landscape and voter preferences.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}