This Manikpur 'Sherni' who took on Dadua swears by BSP but roots for SP

MANIKPUR (CHITRAKOOT): Harijanpur in Chitrakoot district’s Manikpur assembly constituency is like any other village in the considerably underdeveloped area: Mud-caked hutments, absence of drains and dusty pathways connecting one settlement with another.


However, there is one thing about this village that makes it extraordinary.

It was from here in 2002 that Dadua’s gang members were chased away by villagers, led by Ram Lalli. Now, her door proudly bears the sign ‘Patha ki Sherni’.

Now likely in her 60s, Lalli’s lean frame and wrinkles are no signs of weakness. She moves around with a gun and has been a staunch follower of the Bahujan movement. She dedicated her youth to Kanshi Ram after he founded the BSP, but is campaigning for Samajwadi Party in this byelection.

She said, “We were sitting down for our meal when one boy tore into our hut. He had been kidnapped by Dadua’s men from MP but had managed to escape and reach our village. This was at the peak of Dadua’s power and his men did not expect any resistance from the villagers. However, I resolved I will not let any harm come to the boy as he had come to my house.”

Armed with axes and saws, Lalli led the charge and dacoits had to beat a retreat. When news spread, she was felicitated by governor in Lucknow.

“Why should I have been scared? Are women weak? I challenged them to touch the boy but they ran. Our people have been harassed for years. We know we all have to die one day but when those dacoits came in front of us, we have been scared. Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi... all fought. I am a woman, I have power,” said Lalli, dressed in an off-white salwar kurta and stole, in a reminder of what BSP chief Mayawati dons.

‘We suspect foul play, hold polls again’

Currently, Lalli and her supporters have a single agenda, which is to ensure that BJP does not win the bypolls. If that means that she will back SP instead of BSP, she has no qualms about it.

“There is a huge Dalit population in Manikpur, despite which the BSP-SP alliance lost in the Lok Sabha election. We are suspicious of the EVMs and challenge the government to hold elections through ballot paper,” she said.

Admitting that she is still devoted to BSP chief Mayawati, as are her several followers, Lalli says campaigning for SP is a politically driven move.

“I have been a follower of BR Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram and have given my life to BSP. Mayawati is everything for us. Electorally however, I will work for whichever party I believe can defeat BJP,” she said.