Seeking votes with statues of mafia dons

Raining appeasements during election season is nothing new in politics, but ever heard of luring a voter with a statue of a dacoit or a mafia don?

Uttar Pradesh, infamous for its law and order and what not is now in the news after aspirants to the state Assembly began installing statues of anti-social elements in temples across the state to attract votes.

After the statue of dreaded dacoit Dadua alias Shiv Kumar Patel was installed inside a temple in Fatehpur district, statues of a mafia don and another dacoit is likely to be installed inside temples at two different locations.

Dadua’s family is active in politics and to wield considerable clout in the dacoit-infested Bundelkhand districts of Chitrakoot and Banda, political parties have depended on them for garnering support of the powerful Kurmi community.  

The statue of Nirbhay Gurjar, once a dreaded dacoit active in the ravines of Chambal Valley in the state and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, would be installed inside a temple at Zaharapura village in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. 

Nirbhay’s cousin Sarban Singh Gurjar said preparations are in full swing and that the “statue will soon be ready for installation.”