Politicians hatched plot to murder Phoolan, says Nishad party president

GORAKHPUR: Sanjay Nishad, national president of the Nishad party, on Wednesday criticised the BJP government for not ensuring justice in the Phoolan Devi murder case.

The bandit queen-turned-politician, who belonged to a backward caste, was shot dead in New Delhi on July 25, 2001.

“Pholan Devi, who raised her voice against oppression, was killed in a conspiracy hatched by politicians. She was a role model for lakhs of Indian women but these politicians didn’t gave her proper dignity,” he said.

He alleged that the prime accused Sher Singh Rana, who is out on bail, was seen sharing the dais with chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Sanjay Nishad was addressing a joint rally organized by the SP and Nishad (Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal) party leaders in Gorakhpur’s Champa Devi Park to mark the 17th death anniversary of Phoolan Devi. Thousands attended the rally, which also marked the Smriti Diwas of Guru Machchendra Nath, the Nath sect deity, who is revered at the Gorakhnath temple, of which CM Yogi Adityanath is the head priest.

Gorakhpur MP Praveen Nishad, who is Sanjay Nishad’s son, said his party would continue to fight for the rights of the Nishads and work to ensure that the community got the benefits of reservation. Praveen Nishad had contested the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha by-election on the Samajwadi Party ticket, supported by the BSP, and wrested the seat from the BJP.

He appealed to his supporters to vote for the Nishad Party-SP combine in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sanjay Nishad’s party has been staking claim to the Gorakhnath temple for its connection with Guru Machchendra Nath, who belonged to the fishermen community.