Doctoring voters to vote for Ranjit Don | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Doctoring voters to vote for Ranjit Don

PTI | ByRuchir Kumar & BK Singh, Begusarai
Apr 30, 2004 01:51 PM IST

They are bona fide medical practitioners (their degrees say so) engaged in a political enterprise. They are busy stumping for incarcerated Dr Kumar Suman Singh alias Ranjit Don, an independent, contesting from Begusarai.

They are bona fide medical practitioners (their degrees say so) engaged in a political enterprise. Meet Dr Shravan and Dr Vinod Mukta, both busy stumping for incarcerated Dr Kumar Suman Singh alias Ranjit Don, an independent, contesting from the Begusarai parliamentary seat. The ‘Don’ is in jail in connection with the CAT and CBSE question paper leak scam.

The two doctors — Dr Shravan being the brother of Ranjit Don — are sharing the burden of campaigning with the Don’s wife, Deepika alias Dolly, a third year graduation student. Also lending a helping hand are Deepika’s father Brijnandan Singh and brother-in-law Umesh Prasad. Together, they are determined to catapult the Don to Parliament.

The issues they parrot sound like political rhetoric — to remove social imbalance and strive towards creation of a casteless, fearless and a corruption-free society — but what stands out is their claim to remove unemployment. An independent hoping to end unemployment speaks volumes about the candidate’s ideals.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

How do you propose to do it? Hindustan Times asked Deepika, who was campaigning in Sikandra village on Tuesday. “Hum naujawanon mein daktar banne ki umeed jagayenge (we will inspire the youth to become doctors),” she says. Plain and simple! It’s not at all surprising, coming as it does from the wife of the ‘Don’, most of whose family members are doctors. It is a different matter that the ‘Don’ is accused of having facilitated acquisition of their degrees through leak of CAT and CBSE question papers.

And how do you intend to do it? “Well, we will open new medical and engineering colleges, which will help those youth who cannot go and study outside the state. The institutions will also provide employment,” she replies.

Commenting on her husband’s propaganda posters, which have the photograph of the ‘Don’ in handcuff, Deepika says, “My husband is innocent. He has been implicated as part of a political conspiracy. We want our voters to know this.”

Ask Deepika why her husband chose a teacup and quarter-plate as his election symbol instead of the doctor’s proverbial stethoscope, and she would shy away from a reply.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On