Eunuchs to join Hazare's Jan Lokpal bill agitation

Say they know what it's like to be exploited by corrupt system, vow to sit on hunger strike in Delhi

Eunuchs from Parner near Anna Hazare's village Ralegansiddhi have backed the anti-corruption crusader in his nationwide agitation for a Jan Lokpal bill. Kajol Guru, the leader of hijras (eunuchs) from Ahmadnagar district, took a morcha of 500 members of the community to District Collector Sanjiv Kumar and extended their support to Hazare. Guru said the blessings of the eunuch community were with Hazare.


Showing solidarity: The group of eunuch led by Kajol Guru that went
to the collector's office in Ahmadnagar to support Anna Hazare's agitaion
on Saturday. pic/Girish Kulkarni

Hijaras are a community of transgender people who have sex with men as they see themselves as the feminine component in a sexual partnership. Guru said they were with Hazare as hijras know what it is like to be exploited by a corrupt system. "We are the worst victims of corruption," Guru said. "We are the first victims of police atrocities and have to pay money to get rid of harassment."

Guru said they were treated as secondary citizens, and were deprived of many civil rights such as inclusion of their names in voter lists and getting a ration card. "Hazare's Jan Lokpal bill shall certainly help us in giving back our basic human rights as citizens of India," Guru said.

Guru is getting ready to leave for Delhi to be at the Ramleela ground with other hizras. Accompanying Guru are Laila Shaikh, Reena Gaikwad, Deepa Bhingardiwe, Sujata Sale, Muskan Shaikh and Asha Nagarkar. They will meet Hazare at the Ramleela Ground and sit for a hunger strike there.

"We are with Anna and have not consumed food for the past three days and our relay hunger strike shall continue till the Jan Lokpal bill gets passed in Parliament," Laila Shaikh said. "Anna is our inspiration and he has backed us in our fight for our rights in the past. We are leaving by Monday evening for Delhi on the Jhelum Express. We will be carrying the message of support from the 2,500 eunuchs from our own district."

Eunuchs in the city are also backing Hazare. Panna Gebrial, a eunuch who is president of Aashirwad, a trangender organisation, said that all 10,000 hijras from the community in the city was backing Hazare.

"We have to face maximum corruption in the red light area from the police and municipal corporation regarding many issues related to our livelihood. Anna is our only hope and we shall be with him throughout his fight against corruption and for the Jan Lokpal bill," Gebrial said.

A big group of eunuchs from the city is also leaving for Delhi to join Hazare's agitation at the Ramleela ground.
"Our blessings are considered a good omen. After God, our best wishes shall definitely give Anna great success in his agitation and the Jan Lokpall bill shall be passed," Gebrial said.