From dumping snakes in government offices to climbing atop a water tank in Sholay style to shake up authorities. A brash style of functioning separates Bacchu Kadu, independent MLA from Achalpur (Amravati), from others of his ilk.
From dumping snakes in government offices to climbing atop a water tank in Sholay style to shake up authorities. A brash style of functioning separates Bacchu Kadu, independent MLA from Achalpur (Amravati), from others of his ilk. A votary of equality of the disabled, the 44-year-old had organised a blood donation camp at St George's Hospital on February 20 where 600 physically challenged people turned up. Kanchan Srivastava spoke to Kadu in a medical van after he donated blood for the 83rd time. Edited excerpts:
You are a lawmaker, but you often take the law in your own hands. Why?
I can't keep quiet when I see that government officials are harassing the common man. To teach them a lesson, it is necessary to break the law at times. It attracts attention of everyone and they are forced to do their job.
Do you want to become Arvind Kejriwal of Achalpur?
I am Kejriwal's baap (much above him), for I am holding constructive movements for past two decades such as conducting blood donation drives of disabled people. I don't believe in wasting people's time and energy by holding road shows. I am not so popular because I don't live in Delhi where even a small work is noticed.
So, who is your inspiration?
I derive a little bit of inspiration from Anil Kapoor-starrer Nayak. My funda is – first Gandhigiri or else, Bhagat Singh.
You exchanged the Indian flag with your wife during your wedding and instead holding a feast, you gifted tricycles to disabled people. Was this a publicity stunt?
I and my wife just wanted to show respect to the nation. As regards the feast, I was part of Zilla Panchayat then and had requested district officials to provide 100 tricycles to the needy. After eight months of following up, I could get just one which left me disheartened. I thought why waste money on feeding guests who were not hungry. Instead, we helped the needy.
You are currently holding an agitation. Why?
Since years, I have been fighting for the rights of people with disabilities, but the government has nothing. Our demands include compulsory spending of 3% funds in civic bodies, speedy issuance of disability certificates, hike in disability support pension, filling up vacancies for them, expansion of housing scheme for APL disabled. We want government to set-up a separate commissionerate for differently abled people under social justice department.
Have you got any assurance from the government?
The social justice minister has assured us that all our demands would be met in three months. If that happens, we will collect blood equivalent to the CM's weight and treat ministers with laddoos. If not, we'll hold blood donation drives in front of their bungalows.
Why don't you join BJP or Shiv Sena?
My organization Prahar has helped over 20,000 people avail medical treatment and 25,000 people get their caste certificate. There is a lot need to be done in my constituency, especially for farmers and on education and health front. I don't think that I am doing any less compared to MLAs of Sena or BJP. Moreover, I don't want to lose my independence by joining any political party.
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