Man who fought against flesh trade ready to contest poll
ALLAHABAD: A social worker, who is credited with freeing the Sangam city from the scourge of flesh trade, is set to contest assembly election as an independent candidate from Allahabad (west) seat.
Sunil Chowdhary has already started campaigning for the election with his team of supporters who are devoted to social cause.
He staged protests for over a year and filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, seeking shifting of red-light area from Meerganj, in 2016.
The district administration was forced to take action and flush out sex workers on the instructions of the Allahabad high court.
Chowdhary is now on a mission to launch a campaign against liquor in the Hindi heartland. He is seeking votes on the promise of development and social reforms.
“My fight against flesh trade and liquor is not limited to a particular area or city. The problems are prevalent in all parts of the country but no government has taken serious steps to control it,” Chowdhary told HT.
“I started my struggle against flesh trade in Meerganj when I saw minor girls being pushed into flesh trade by brothel operators. Girls were being trafficked to redlight area from poor regions of the country right under the nose of the police. I staged protests for over a year near the statute of Chunnan Guru at Clock Tower in Chowk and demanded the administration should take action against brothel owners,” he said.
“Many influential people tried to threaten or lure me. I was even sent to jail on the instructions of a woman official who alleged that I attempted to take a selfie with her while handing over a memorandum to her. However, I continued my struggle against flesh trade with the support of the people,” Chowdhary added.
He also launched an agitation to renovate Nehru Park and demanded the government to declare the birthplace of first PM Jawaharlal Nehru in Meerganj as a national heritage site. He was recently given police protection on the instructions of the commissioner after he was threatened by some touts after the administration acted against flesh trade.
Chowdhary, who is also a lawyer, said his only motive behind contesting the assembly election was to bring development. Accusing Samajwadi Party for using minorities as a vote bank, Chowdhary said Majidia Islamia Inter College in old city area of Atala should be converted into a minority institution.
“If I get elected, I would ensure that Colvin Hospital in old city area is modified into a multi-facility hospital. The other issues that I plan to raise include making UP an alcoholfree state, free treatment to BPL cardholders even at private hospitals, employment to youths and checking exploitation of ‘bidi’ workers,” he said.