WIll lADY lUCK SMIlE ON GUlABI GANG lEADERIJ
Third time in the battle fray, Sampat aims at spreading pink colour of women empowerment in her constituency Sharmila Krishna
Her throat may have gone hoarse because of election activities but her enthusiasm is in the pink of health. Sampat Pal, the Gulabi Gang leader, is all set to colour her constituency Manekpur in Bundlekhand in pink which is symbolic of women empowerment.
She believes strongly that when words fail to get justice anywhere one can resort to only one thing and that is the “bamboo court” which in common parlance means “lathi”.
Pal told The Pioneer she is grateful to the Congress leader Sonia Gandhi who has given ticket to a poor woman in order to bring about development in one of the most backward districts of the State.
Her journey has not been easy as she fought all kinds of traditional mindsets.
“I have been through all the grueling battles of home, hearth, officials and even political leaders to emerge victorious,” she added.
Third time in the battle fray, she has all her priorities chalked out. “Working for women and their education is certainly my priority and making them independent and educate them will be my main focus. Uplift of the Bundelkhand area and improving the road and electricity conditions of my constituency is also necessary. I have plans for setting a gaushala in the State too,” she said.
She counts her loyalty of staying with one party as her biggest asset. “My opponents are those who have been switching parties with ease and whom I term “dal badlu” (turncoat), they leave “purana dal” (old party) and then join “naya dal” (new party) while I will always stick to one party which has given me the chance to do something for my constituency,” she said.
When asked to comment on incidents of rape, she said, “Honestly speaking the problem is lack of education. There is a need to educate young girls as well as their parents so that couples who want to get married can be married,” she added.
MANKAMESHWAR TEMPlE AWARENESS DRIVE
Five-thousand-year-old Mankameshwar temple is carrying out an intensive voters awareness programme at the State Capital for the first time in its long history. The Mahant of the temple Divya Giri told The Pioneer she was carrying out the campaign primarily to encourage women to come out and vote on the polling day. The temple began the campaign on the National Voters’ Day on January 25 and since then the Mahant is taking time out from the daily temple rituals to visit schools and colleges to spread awareness. “ I have always believed that days like January 26, August 15 which are related to the country are celebrated once a day and what is required is an active participation to encourage voters,” she said.
RlD CANDIDATE’S BROTHER KIllED; BUlANDSHAHR TENSE
Tension gripped poll-bound Bulundshahr after brother of the Rashtriya lal Dal (RlD) contestant was found murdered under mysterious circumstances. The bullet-riddled bodies of both the victims were recovered in Khurja area on Tuesday morning. The news of sensational double murder spread like wildfire in the locality and within no time supporters of the RlD leader gathered and staged a protest, demanding arrest of the accused. The protest ended after senior police officers somehow managed to convince protesters that the criminal will be brought to book at the earliest.