Not very long ago Ramesh Niranjan enjoyed the protocol status of a Minister of State in Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand). But today, reduced to sell bangles at a small kiosk here, he bespeaks what it means being a victim of dirty politics.
By Ashish Goel
Haridwar, Nov.16 : Not very long ago Ramesh Niranjan enjoyed the protocol status of a Minister of State in Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand). But today, reduced to sell bangles at a small kiosk here, he bespeaks what it means being a victim of 'dirty politics'.
As the Chairman of Sugarcane Development Advisory Committee, Ramesh Niranjan enjoyed the protocol status of Minister of State during the previous Congress government andwas entitled various privileges.
But call it destiny or the grotesque face of politics he has become nearly insolvent. Niranjan was dismissed from the post of Chairmanship in December 2006 following various allegations by his political adversaries.
"I took the pledge of serving the society with complete honesty and faith but today I am facing a lot of problems and my financial condition is not good. I do not have even the money to pay for the school fees of my children," said Ramesh Niranjan.
Niranjan complains of facing a tough time due to some of his senior ministers' grudge against him. They always considered him a person of lower class and a misfit to enjoy the privileges of a Minister of State.
He alleges that his success as a Congress leader during N. D. Tewari-led Uttaranchal Government led to many envious adversaries hatching conspiracies against him. It ultimately led to his ouster.
Niranjan's downfall in politics nearly made him bankrupt. At one stage he reached a point of losing his house and children's education. But he opted to take up the work of selling bangles to survive.
He informs that he lost his assets during his tenure as the Chairman of Sugarcane Development Advisory Committee. At times he had to incur expenses from his own pocket to avail the facilities entitled by Ministers of State. He was promised reimbursement but it never materialised and thus, he reached insolvency.
"I worked for the Government after spending my own money but not even a penny was reimbursed to me. I wish that my money should be repaid to me. This is my work and I have been doing it for the past two decades," Niranjan said. Today, Niranjan wants revocation of all false allegations against him and urges government's financial support for him to restore his dignity.
Many residents, who have watched Ramesh Niranjan struggling in life, are surprised and sympathetic to his pitiable condition. They regard him as a good leader who has always taken care of others' in bad times.
"We feel that such a person should be given a chance. The senior leaders here did not give him a chance to rise. Therefore, he had to face their wrath. We want that he should be given his due," said Arun Kumar, a resident.
"He has always stood by all of us in the time of need. Even though he worked for the people but the Government did not give him any facilities. His superiors tried to suppress him. He was having a good life but now his property is on the verge of being confiscated," said Malkhan Singh, another resident.
Niranjan only hopes that his party leaders and other powers-that-be would reckon his services and let him regain his lost stature as a public figure.
For record, Ramesh Niranjan is an office-bearer of the District Congress Committee.
ANI