Lok Sabha elections 2024: I want to take on PM Modi, says Hemangi Sakhi

The decision of Mahamandaleshvar Hemangi Sakhi to contest the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi Uttar Pradesh against Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indeed noteworthy given her commitment to raising issues and the voices of marginalised communities Her journey from Baroda to Mumbai and eventually to Vrindavan and Varanasi reflects her resilience and determination She tells midday about what keeps her going in the face of struggleBeing the first transgender to recite the Bhagavad Gita is a significant achievement showcasing her dedication to her beliefs and community Itrsquoll be interesting to see how her candidacy impacts the political discourse in Varanasi midday spoke with Sakhi who says contesting the election is not a fight to win or lose but to raise issues and the voice of transgenders and the common man who have been neglected in many waysSakhi campaigning in VaranasiSakhi was born in Baroda Gujarat and later shifted to Mumbai as her father was in the film distribution business She studied at a convent school till Std VI her parents died around that time leaving her to fend for herself Sakhirsquos devotion towards Krishna brought her to the ISKCON temple in Mumbai She then shifted to the ritualistic lanes of Vrindavan in Mathura where she decided to perform religious rituals She started learning the granthas in the Gita and as today is the first transgender raconteur of the Bhagavad GitaExcerpt from an interviewWhy did you decide to contest the electionTo raise the voice of transgenders who are totally neglected in society We too have the right to live and fight electionsYou will be a public representative How will you only think about transgender rightsI never said that I would only take up transgender issues There should be someone to raise their voice too Only a transgender can understand their problems and raise them in ParliamentWhat issues you will raise for transgendersThere are many issues starting from equality We are just neglected in society If we have the right to vote then all facilities provided to common citizens should be provided to us Right to education right to jobs and many more For example the Maharashtra government a few months ago announced MHADA flats for transgenders But where are the flats It was just an announcement Why are such promises not written on paperWhy did you decide to contest from Varanasi against PM ModiItrsquos not about fighting against Narendra Modi or any big figure Itrsquos about raising our voices and issues If I contest against him then only my voice will be loud enough to reach the masses and the governmentWhat are you doing for campaigning in VaranasiPeople know me here and if campaigning is done then it is with me going doortodoor in the constituency It will help me get familiar with the public and their daytoday problemsYou were denied a ticket by the Akhil Bharati Hindu Maha Sabha partyYes they denied me a ticket First they declared me as the Varanasi candidate Then they got a letter from the Election Commission saying I canrsquot contest So they denied me a ticket after which I decided to contest independentlyDo you think there was pressure to not give you a ticketMaybe I am not aware of any such thingYou are meeting the transgender community too What do you tell themI am meeting them and asserting that every transgender should think about contesting the election Our voice will be only raised if we have a seat and raise our issues In the near future we should ensure that be it the Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Vidhan Sabha corporatorcounsellor or gram panchayat there should be contestants from our side too We are into social work but still have to raise so many of our own issuesDo you think Modi has done satisfactory work in the constituencyThe Varanasi people can better explain it better I havenrsquot spoken against Narendra Modi But I think any public representative elected by the common people should be in public and on the ground Modi just comes for inaugurations People in his constituency canrsquot even meet him due to his security cover Where will they raise their problems He should be on the ground going doortodoor to know the problems of the general publicDo you face any sort of pressure after deciding to contest against the PMMany have asked why Irsquom contesting against him But I have decided to make a stand and fight for the rights of the peopleWhat about womenrsquos rights and empowermentI have raised issues related to womenrsquos empowerment and against abuse The government says lsquoBeti Bachao Beti Padhaorsquo but is it safe to send our sisters and daughters out and then will they get the quality of education they need Women in the state lack education and are often targeted for dowry What is the government doing for them I will also come up with my solution lsquoKinnar Bachao Aur Kinnar Padhaorsquo as we too have the same rightWhy the slogan lsquoKinnar Bachao Aur Kinnar PadhaoMy reason for contesting is to save the Kinnar ie transgender communityhellip to upgrade them Most of them are into begging and prostitution Why are they choosing the wrong way Shouldnrsquot the government think about them so they get jobs and can work hard to live a happy life rather than getting into such illegal ways of earning Firstly educating transgenders is most importantWhat other issues do you wish to take onI think from giving scholarships and concessions in education for a child to giving facilities to the elderly Now a senior citizenrsquos monthly expense is R2000R5000 just for medicines Where will they get the money from Why isnrsquot the government giving free medicine to them Only health insurance is not enough The government should also consider their daily medicine requirements More than 40 50 per cent of senior citizens depend on medicineWhat do you have to say about the lack of jobsThe government should fill the vacant posts which are on hold first Not only provision of jobs but also harassment of men should stop These days the law safeguards women and many are filing false cases in the name of harassment and talaq This should be stopped and there should be some law to protect men from getting abused or harassedHow many votes do you think yoursquoll get against ModiI think over 400 this time The fight is not to secure votes but to raise our issuesWhy did the transgender community protest against you getting a ticketYes I heard about some transgenders protesting against me I doubt they were Kinnar Everyone has an opposition and I think they are trying to create false propaganda against me I donrsquot care as I am fighting for the transgender and common citizens overallEC letter denying Sakhi ticketI am directed to refer to your letter dated 110324 received in the Commission on 110324 in the above subject wherein your party has applied for allotment of common election symbols for the ensuing AssemblyLok Sabha general elections under the Election Symbols Reservation and Allotment Order 1968 In this regard it is to be informed that your application has not been accepted due to the following reasons As per the records of the Commission on the date of application your party has no authorised office bearers and there is a dispute regarding the office bearers of your party In this regard you are advised to refer to lsquoConditions for Allotmentrsquo lsquoProforma for Applicationrsquo and lsquoDate on or after which 2rsquo available on the Commissionrsquos website at the following path httpswwwecigovinelectionsymbol