‘Gulabi gang’ ready for political plunge
With the now famous “Gulabi gang” announcing its decision to contest the next state Assembly elections, politics in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh may undergo a drastic change.
Ms Sampat Pal, who heads the “Gulabi Gang” — a social group that works for women empowerment and fights against social injustice — is willing to contest the next Assembly elections.
“Yes, we are preparing to take a plunge into politics even though we really do not need to because our group wields more power than any other legislator. Our members, however, are mounting pressure on us and we may contest the polls,” she says in a telephonic interview.
The Gulabi Gang, that gets its name because all its members dress in candy pink saris, was officially formed in 2006 and has now become synonymous with instant justice.
“In any case, we do what any MLA or MP is supposed to do. Whenever we find that a person is suffering injustice, we take up the matter with the concerned officials and bang our lathis on the ground till the matter is resolved and the person gets justice. The sheer presence of lathi-wielding women, all dressed in pink, now evokes fear among officials and helps us get justice for the downtrodden sections, particularly women. Our main task is to deal with cases related to atrocities on women — be it domestic violence, rape, caste discrimination or child marriage,” she says.
The Gulabi Gang, according to local sources, symbolises women empowerment and is supported by women from all sections of society.
Women from upper castes and upper classes may not join the Gulabi Gang but they do support the initiative from a distance.
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