November 11: The former bandit queen shot off as usual, from the hip this time. An instigation to the public to take the law into its own hands and political-savvy rhetoric was what Phoolan Devi, an MP with the Samajwadi Party (SP), had to offer on her visit to Dombivli, Bhivandi and Bhayander on Tuesday.

Phoolan was here to address people from 27 villages who are resisting their forceful amalgamation into the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). The villagers fear that such a move will take away the privileges they presently enjoy as gram panchayats.

A 25,000 strong crowd waited at the Dombivli Gymkhana grounds for Phoolan, who was delayed by over three-and-a-half hours due to a flight cancellation. She said, "The Sena promised you that you would not be forced to join the KDMC, and you fell for their talk. Teach them a lesson by taking the law into your own hands.'' En route she told this reporter, "With a factionalised Congress and an oppressive Sena, our party will have to do little to convince people that we are the right choice.'' She also termed TADA a bakwas kanun, promising that she would personally fight for the release of all those wrongfully confined under the draconian law.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.