Madhya Pradesh: After making history by entering Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1998 as first-ever third-gender MLA; Shabnam Mausi still craves for her return to mainstream politics for serving the people in the “corruption-ridden” place.
While talking to News18 at length as she paid an odd visit to Bhopal to meet Assembly speaker Sitasaran Sharma, urging him to hike pension offered to ex-MLAs. “I get Rs 26,500 monthly pension which is not enough to bear all the expenses.”
Shabnam Mausi had tried to replicate her success again in 2003 but lost to BJP’s strongman Chhote Lal Sarawagi. “Sarawagi offering chicken and liquor to get his vote-bank was the reason for my defeat,” Shabnam summed up her defeat in her inimitable style.
Pushed into political oblivion, Shabnam remains mostly in Anuppur –a distirct carved out of Shahdol (Sohagpur constituency)–from where she had contested in 1998. She, however remains engaged in AIDS awareness, gender sensitivity and other volunteer endevours.
Shabnam however seemed extremely upset with RSS’ aggressive stance of late. “If Muslims are terrorists in various countries of the globe, they (RSS) are the same for India.” Why you carry a stick or why you show off your weapons every now and then, she questioned.
Twelve years after completing her term expired as legislator, Shabnam still longs to return to mainstream politics for serve the people. However her political choices are unambiguous.
Lashing out at the ruling BJP in MP over rampant corruption and ill-development, she ruled out joining BJP. “I had tried to join Congress but got into an ugly spat with late senior leader Radhakishan Malviya and things never materialised.”
Saying that the central government following SC orders have formulated schemes for the third-gender but BJP government in MP was doing nothing for this section. “State government is completely apathetic and negligent towards the kinnars.”
She also lashed at Panchayat and Rural Development minister Gopal Bhargav. The transgender were invited by him for raising awareness on Swachchta Abhiyan but the campaign was a “damp squib”.
Asked to comment on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shabnam backed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s onslaught against Finance minister Arun Jaitley, saying that Jailtely would run out of space to run away if his graft is exposed.
A face of trasngender empowerment in India, Shabnam attended just two years of primary schooling, including rudimentary English, she could speak 12 languages that she has picked up during her travels.
