Prison no bar for Dr Don

Despite a HC verdict that adversely affects candidates contesting from jail, the campaign machinery of Ranjit Don, prime accused in CAT paper leak, is well under way.

He promises to open new medical and engineering colleges in Bihar if elected. His election plank is that he’ll remove unemployment among the youth. Despite a high court judgement that adversely affects candidates contesting from jail, the campaign machinery of Suman Kumar Singh a.k.a. Ranjit Don, the prime accused in the CAT question paper leak, is well under way.

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Though the independent candidate from the Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency is lodged in Beur Jail, his wife Deepika and brother Dr Shravan are determined to send the Don to Parliament. Also sharing the burden are Deepika’s father Brijnandan Singh and brother-in-law Umesh Prasad.

Apart from the gem about new professional colleges, their issues are regular poll rhetoric — to remove social imbalances and aim for a casteless, fearless and a corruption-free society.

“Hum naujawanon mein daaktar banne ki umeed jagayenge (We will try and inspire the youth to become doctors),” says Deepika. Not surprising, coming from the wife of the Don, most of whose family members are doctors.

Asked about their propaganda material, which has the photograph of the Don in handcuffs, Deepika says, “My husband is innocent. He has been implicated as part of a political conspiracy. We want our voters to know this.”

But when asked why her husband chose a tea cup and quarter-plate as his election symbol instead of a stethoscope, her spiel dries up.