BENGALURU: A three major parties are doing everything they can to win May 12 elections, MEP, a new entrant into state’s poll arena has caught the attention of many people. Some are even calling it BJP’s creation to dent Congress’ minority vote bank. Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) founder and president Nowhera Shaik told The New Indian Express that she is not an agent of BJP or Congress. Excerpts.
Reasons for contesting Karnataka elections?
There are only two options before people, it’s either Congress or BJP. Is this democracy? Are we not slowly going back to days of slavery? Our party is contesting elections as we want to tell people that anyone can run this country and bring changes. Our only aim is to ensure justice for people. I am not a politician and have never even worked as a member of any party. However, I took this decision after looking into several aspects. As a social worker, I helped over 10,000 women across the country and during that time realised that power is required to ensure justice for people. Good leaders and good politics will help us to make a positive change.
Why do you think people will vote for MEP?
BJP and Congress may be strong as political parties, but I am stronger than any of them in social work. Our group that works for women’s empowerment is present in over 700 districts in the country. Today, everyone in Karnataka knows what MEP is.
Siddaramaiah claims he has done a lot for development of the state. Your views?
If there is so much development, why are farmers committing suicide? Some of them committed suicide because they were unable to pay just `25,000. Only talking about development will not make any difference. In 2017 alone, 3,500 farmers committed suicide in the state. Why not focus on helping farmers?
Look at the number of crimes against women. What development are they talking about? There is absolutely no development and we will show them what development is.
Your views on performance of Central government.
The Centre should waive farmers’ loans and give more importance to helping them. The Central government is not concerned about common people and is taking decisions like implementation of GST and demonetisation. Number of unemployed youth in the country has crossed 12 crore.
People say MEP is BJP’s creation to divide Congress’ votes.
Only Congress leaders are saying that and not common people. They want me to be put in BJP box so that people will not vote for me. However, voters are aware of all these developments. I am not a BJP agent or a Congress agent. Also, I am not under pressure from anyone and haven’t made any commitment to anyone. I have started the party and established everything on my own. I will not be worried about such talks.
How about election funding as parties spend lot of money?
We are into social work and in a similar manner we will continue with election campaigning. Depending on the need, candidates will take care of their election funds and contest elections.
What are the issues that your party is talking about?
Unemployment, erratic power supply, drinking water shortage, education and housing. Government schools in rural areas are in bad shape. Over 70 per cent children in India study in government schools and we need to improve them. Without giving proper education to our children, the government is talking about Digital India. What will we do with Digital India, if our children do not get good education? MEP’s objective is to provide good education, help the poor, farmers and everyone else in the country.
How many seats will MEP win?
We started campaigning from December and are getting a good response. Lots of people have joined our party and we have received 5,000 requests forms seeking tickets. We are in the process of finalising candidates from all 224 seats. The list will be announced in next two-three days. Around 50 per cent of our candidates have experience of contesting elections and the rest are good social workers. My aim is to win 150 seats and if that happens a person from Karnataka will be made Chief Minister.
A human rights activist
Founder and CEO, Heera Group and a human rights activist. In 1998, she started ‘Madrasa Niswan,’ an Islamic School for girls at Tirupati. In 2008, she started gold exports and imports under the name of ‘Heera Gold Exports and Imports’, the company registered with AP government. In a short time she started many enterprises; Heera Jewellers, Heera Pure drop, Heera Textiles, Heera Granites, Heera Rice, Heera Electronics, Heera Real Estates, Heera Developers, Heera Foodex and other firms.