 Sabash
Maneka
Maneka Gandhi entered politics in 1982,
two years after her husband Sanjay Gandhi, son of late Indian Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi, died in a plane crash. Maneka the fire-brand of Indian politics
lost her seat twice - in 1984 and 1991 - when she contested from Amethi
and Pilibith. But she won in 1989, 1996 and 1998. Today forty two year
young Maneka is India's Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. Maneka
loves reading and watching television, she has one son. Eighteen year old
Feroze Varun Gandhi, the grandson Indira Gandhi loved so much.
When I met Maneka Gandhi I requested her to take me to her constituency
Pilibith to see Maneka's India and India's Maneka. She readily agreed,
but warned me. ''It will be very difficult''.
We left Maharani Bagh, her residence at 6.00 am on Sunday. Three vehicles
in all, her official ambassador car, a Delhi Police jeep and the Tata Sumo
of Officer on Special Duty Ajay Bhardwaj, a man for all seasons and reasons.
She had only four security men, two old faithfuls who have protected her
for nearly fifteen years and two uniformed men.
It was a long journey, passing the river Ganga to Uttar Pradesh. People
followed her vehicle from various points, jeeps, trucks, buses and cycles.
All of them chanting. Maneka Gandhi 'Zindabad' (long live Maneka Gandhi)
. We reached the Sajehanpur guest house at 1.20 p.m. and there were large
crowds to meet and greet her. She had no rest.
But to discuss the problems of her people, her people reached out to
her with ease and she was quick to offer them solutions. She was very attentive
but did not tolerate any nonsense. Pilibith is constituted mainly of Muslims
and Sikhs. A population of more than 20 lakhs. On the first day she opened
a school at Poyan, and a camp for disabled at Banda. The plight of disabled
people really moved her.
She is doing a great deal for them not only in Pilibith but also for
the whole of India, as the Minister for Social Justice.
She has a temper and it is well known in India. But her people accept
it because she is sincere and her temper is a part of it. The day ended
at a farm house in Sampurnanagar a place very close to Nepal, 25 km to
be exact.
On the second day, (Monday) she visited the flood affected areas in
her electorate where the great river Sharada had taken revenge from her
people. She did not try to please the people. She screamed ''Protect the
environment and it will protect you''. But she gave them relief.
When villagers from Radarpar requested her to provide electricity she
said, "India has a scarcity of electricity.
"I cannot lie to you and say I can when I can't. I can fix poles
and pull wires just to please you. That is blackmail. If I blackmail you,
you will blackmail me. So find someone else who can''. On Tuesday the third
day of her visit she started off by refusing the police guard of honour.
It was a hectic day, meeting after meeting, opening telephone exchanges,
television towers and schools at Neoria, Farida and Majhola. Her speeches
were short and to the point. She didn't speak at people but spoke with
people. Neoria is a one hundred percent Muslim area but despite being a
BJP government Minister Maneka was embraced by the Muslims with love. I
must be clear here.
All because they loved this woman who really cared for them. That's
what Riyaz a Muslim leader of the area told me. These were not election
rallies but mere visits to her people. Very few politicians in the world
get this kind of attention, love and affection. Maneka knows where her
heart is.
Maneka has a beautiful smile. I hope the whole of India will smile with
her one day. Sabash Maneka (well done Maneka).
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