Caste poser for rights activist

While the rampant caste politics in the state might serve as a boon to several politicians, it is definitely a bane for Sampat Pal, an acclaimed women’s rights activist who has featured in the Guardian’s list of ‘100 most inspirational women in the world.”

Despite earning accolades for launching the “Gulabi Gang,” a group of woman vigilantes in Banda district here, caste equations in the state might upset Pal’s poll prospects.
She has been fielded by the Congress from the Manikpur Assembly seat in Banda to boost the prospects of other party candidates from the region, especially after the Congress managed to win only three seats in the 2007 Assembly election.

However, the Congress is unlikely to leverage on such manoeuvres, despite a two lakh member-strong Gulabi Gang, as Pal’s rivals said: “The gang members are with Pal on social and women issues….elections are different…the members will also be affected by caste equations, party ideology and local issues.”

The situation once again asserts that in UP politics caste equations rises above candidate’s credentials.

The opponents, acknowledging pal’s soaring popularity among women, denied that such acceptance will see her through the polls. Pal, on her part, remains unfazed by such speculations and continues to campaign in Manikpur, accompanied by her “gang” members clad in pink.

“Our members are keeping an eye on everything…we will teach a good lesson to any one, who tries to buy votes here with money or liquor,’’ Pal said.




 

 

 

 

 

 .