Hena Shahab
It’s 7.30 a.m. and a motley crowd has gathered outside the modest home of imprisoned "Sultan of Siwan" Mohd. Shahabuddin in Pratapur village. Over two dozen SUVs are parked outside. Some of the occupants are sitting beneath trees, while others form a semi-circle on the verandah of the old house. Fully covered in burkha and hijab, Hena Shahab, Shahabuddin's wife, is standing on the half-closed doorsill and instructing a group about the day’s campaign. Contesting the Lok Sabha poll on an RJD ticket, Ms. Shahab takes some time off to respond to questions.
You have become mature now… earlier in the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls you were a contestant with very few words on your lips.
Paristhithi sab kuch sikha deti hai (The situation makes you learn everything).
This time your fight is against the wife of another don... how do you see the challenge?
I don’t see any challenge. And moreover, I do not wish to make any comment on others. I want to focus only on my work and leave the rest to the people of Siwan who know well what my husband has done for them and what others have done.
After losing twice, how do you think you’ll win this time?
I lost in the 2009 parliamentary poll because I got very little time and I was a new entrant in politics… I could hardly speak at that time. In 2014 it was “Modi wave” that swept the poll. But this time, I’ve got experience and people too have realised what PM Modi promised them and what he has fulfilled. All the people cannot be cheated all the time.
Who do you find a better politician — Lalu Prasad or Nitish Kumar? And why?
Lalu Prasad always. He is the only mass leader of Bihar who cares for the downtrodden and becomes their voice. He doesn’t change, he doesn’t betray his people.
Do you miss your husband?
Yes, I miss him a lot… the people of Siwan miss him a lot.