Patna– On the martyrdom day of Phoolan Devi, the legendary bandit-turned-parliamentarian and symbol of rebellion against caste injustice, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) held a large tribute event at Bapu Auditorium in Patna, drawing a significant crowd from across Bihar.
The event turned into a powerful show of political and social solidarity, with VIP Chief and former Minister Mukesh Sahani and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav paying homage and using the platform to slam the NDA governments at both the Centre and state levels.
“Veerangna Phoolan Devi was not just a name, she was a revolution”
VIP leader Mukesh Sahani, widely known as the “Son of the Mallah” (fisherfolk community), called Phoolan Devi an enduring icon of resistance against caste oppression and gender violence.
“Phoolan Devi showed the world that women don’t just wear bangles — when injustice is done, they rise and take revenge,” Sahani said, referring to her fearless defiance in a deeply hierarchical society.
He hailed Phoolan Devi, born into a Nishad (OBC) family, as a beacon for marginalised communities, especially women, and vowed to carry forward her legacy of justice, dignity, and rights.
Warning of Conspiracy, Call for Unity
Sahani accused the current regime of orchestrating a conspiracy to dilute the democratic rights enshrined in the Constitution by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He urged people to educate their children and remain vigilant.
“They took away four of our MLAs, but we’ll take back 40,” he thundered. “This is not just a political battle — it’s a battle to reclaim our honour.”
He asserted that while the Nishad community enjoys reservation in other states, it is still denied equal rights in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Sahani called on voters to bring in a government of the poor, promising that under a Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government, backward communities would occupy key leadership roles, including that of Deputy Chief Minister.
“If Lalu Prasad Yadav hadn’t become Chief Minister, those sitting below would have never even seen the chair,” Sahani said, crediting the RJD patriarch for uplifting backward castes.
Tejashwi Yadav Slams NDA for Bihar’s Stagnation
Addressing the gathering, Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader and Bihar’s Leader of Opposition, mounted a sharp attack on both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Twenty years of Nitish Kumar, eleven years of Narendra Modi — yet Bihar remains where it was,” Tejashwi said. “Farmers’ incomes are down, youth unemployment is soaring, and people are forced to migrate.”
He accused the NDA government of lacking vision and urged the people to back the Mahagathbandhan, which he said has a clear roadmap to make Bihar a leading state.
“This government has no direction. We have both a vision and a plan,” Tejashwi declared. “Give us one chance — and we will transform Bihar.”
Remembering a Revolutionary Icon
Phoolan Devi, known in popular culture as the “Bandit Queen”, was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996 and became a fierce advocate for women and Dalit rights. Her transformation from a victim of abuse and caste violence to a national leader made her a folk hero among the marginalised.
She was assassinated on July 25, 2001, outside her Delhi residence — a killing that remains a symbol of the volatile intersection between caste, power, and justice in India. (Source: IANS)
