VIP to get Phoolan statue in Nishad houses in Purvanchal

Lucknow: At a time when political parties in UP have geared up for the 2022 elections, there are also some that will mark their debut in the state. The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) is one such party aiming for a long run in UP by banking on the legacy of Nishad leader, Phoolan Devi.
After the state government did not allow it to install an 18-ft statue of Phoolan Devi in 18 divisional headquarters on July 25, the day Phoolan died and what is observed as Shahadat Diwas, from November 15 the party will distribute a bust of the late leader among voters of 169 seats where it intends to contest.
“Now the party will get her statue established in every house of Nishad brothers and sisters in Purvanchal,” said party national president, Mukesh Sahni. The 169 seats it has identified have 12-18% Nishad voters. The party’s mass outreach programme will start in every block of the seats from November 15.
“Statues will be distributed in every block in these constituencies,” said party national spokesperson, Dev Jyoti.
The party’s aim is to capitalise on her legacy at a time when other Nishad leaders and Nishad-centric political outfits are also staking their claim on her legacy. Phoolan Devi, in her tenure as MP, had raised the issue of reservation for Nishads on several occasions. This is what these parties are fighting for till date. And when the state government has already announced that it is working to make it possible, the Nishad-centric parties are being even more vociferous about the demand.
The VIP has just wrapped up its Nishad Janchetna rallies held in 13 districts of Purvanchal from October 17-30. It has also started addressing Phoolan as ‘veerangana’ (brave woman). The party’s pamphlet printed on July 25 read, “Phoolan abhi zinda hai, hamare aur aapke vichaaron mein, maata behno ke sangharshon mein.” Phoolan was born in August 1963 to a Mallah family in Shekhpur Gudha ka Purwa village in Jalaun. The party’s pamphlet mentioned that she was put to non-stop harassment by a ‘specific community’ in the village but she “did not bow down” and eventually made her way to the parliament.