AMRITSAR: Former bandit queen, Phoolan Devi, whose writ ran large in “chambal ghati” for over a decade, has described the president of All India Youth Congress and Punjab Minister for Jails, Maninderjit Singh Bitta, as worse than the “dacoits.” In an exclusive interview given to “Siti Cable” which telecast last week, she said that Bitta had called her a deceit from public platforms. She said angrily that she had come to Punjab to reveal true face of Bitta. The interview of Phoolan Devi was recorded on July 9 during her visit to Amritsar when she had come to pay obeisance in the Golden Temple. The visit had more or less gone unnoticed since local scribes were not informed about the visit.
When she was asked to comment on what qualification she had to become a politician, Phoolan Devi lashed back saying what qualification other politicians do have. “Some have become leaders by exploiting mandir masjid dispute and some have sparked riots to come into limelight.” she remarked. She questioned the “qualifications” of Bitta to become a leader. She asked if it was not true that he stage-managed militant attacks on him and was responsible for killing of innocent security personnel. Phoolan Devi refused to comment whether she had killed many persons or not? She said that her cases were pending in courts and she did not want to comment.
She said that women had remained slaves of men for ages irrespective of their social and economic status. She said that she had not accepted the slavery of man and had taken revenge. Phoolan Devi felt that there were only two main national problems which are poverty and social injustice. She said that women should be given 50% reservation in politics and jobs. She emphasized that women should come together to help each other. Phoolan Devi said that the story of film “Bandit Queen,” made on her life, was not untrue. She, however, said that the four rape scenes shown in the film were humiliation of women which should not be shown on the screen. She said that this was again injustice with her and she is fighting against it.
Phoolan Devi was accompanied by her husband Umaid Singh, her sister Munni and Inderjit Singh, a nephew of late Giani Zail Singh former President of India. Phoolan Devi had wished to visit Golden Temple if she was released from jail. She said that she was planning to come to Amritsar for the last two years. She had also visited Durgiana temple and Jallianwala Bagh.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1996
