Paswan's daughter stages sit-in against his 'angootha chhap' jibe, seeks apology

PATNA: Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan's daughter Asha Paswan on Sunday sat on a dharna (sit-in agitation) at Gardanibag locality here along with dozens of women supporters, asking her father to apologise for making a veiled attack on RJD leader and former CM Rabri Devi, referring her (Rabri) as ‘Angootha Chhap’ (illiterate person).
Paswan on Friday had attacked the RJD for opposing the NDA-led government's bill to provide 10% reservation for the economically backward in upper castes. “They (RJD) believe in merely raising slogans and making 'angootha chhap' (illiterate person) the chief minister,” Paswan had remarked, without taking the name of any person.

A day after Paswan’s remark, Asha threatened to hold a dharna against the remark outside the LJP’s state headquarters in Patna on Sunday.

However, Asha, Union minister Paswan's estranged daughter, didn't turn up at LJP office. She shifted her agitation to Gandanibag area, where political parties are permitted to hold dharna and sit-in agitations.

Accompanied by dozens of women supporters, Asha reached the Dharna site in Gandanibag around 12pm and sat on dharna, holding placards. The slogans on the placards read Paswan to apologise for referring Rabri Devi as an illiterate woman. The dharna site was barely a kilometre away from the LJP office.

Speaking to reporters at the dharna site, Asha said her father Paswan by referring Rabri Devi as ‘Angoootha Chhap’ insulted not only the state’s former CM but all women including her. She said, “My father must apologise to Rabri Devi and take back his statement.”

Asha, who is the second eldest daughter of Paswan, sat on the dharna for nearly three hours. The supporters also raised slogans against Paswan, asking him to take back the ‘Angootha Chhap’ jibe.

Paswan has three daughters and one son. While Usha and Asha are daughters from his first marriage with Raj Kumari, Isha and son Chirag are from his second marriage with Reena.

Lok Sabha member from Bihar’s Jamui seat, Chirag Paswan also hold the post of the head of LJP Parliamentary Board. Isha is married to Arun Bharti, a big trader and son of former Bihar minister Jyoti.

Asha is married to Anil Sadhu, who unsuccessfully contested assembly election in 2015 on LJP ticket from Bochahan seat in Bihar. Sadhu, a few months back, joined the RJD and currently state president of the RJD’s scheduled caste cell.

Asha has threatened to contest Lok Sabha seat from Hajipur against he father or brother Chirag, if RJD chief Lalu Prasad asks her to do so.