A new entrant into politics, but her recent elevation to a critical party post has made headlines for various reasons. Undeterred by the controversy, Vidya Rani Veerappan, who is best known as Veerappan's daughter, says she’ll remain unaffected by the bouquets and brickbats while letting her work and social service do the talking.
Vidya, a law graduate who also runs a small kids’ school in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, joined India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February this year. A party announcement last week stated that she had been elevated as Tamil Nadu state vice-president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the party’s youth wing.
Vidya’s late father is the forest brigand Veerappan, who operated in the vast forest areas on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. Considered one of the biggest smugglers India has ever seen, the sandalwood mafia was gunned down by Special Task Force (STF) of the Tamil Nadu Police in 2004.
Veerappan had a fearsome reputation during his heydays when he poached elephants for ivory, smuggled sandalwood, kidnapped high-profile individuals and killed forest officials and policemen with impunity.
Speaking to WION, Vidya said her motivation to join politics had risen from having seen the suffering around her while growing up.
“I saw many people suffering from the clash between my late father and the Police. Many were mentally and economically affected and they didn’t have basic education, I wanted to reach out and serve them,” she told WION.
She said that joining politics was not a sudden decision and that she has always been keen on social service. When asked about her appointment to the new party post, the young law graduate said that it didn’t come as a surprise.
“Although the announcement was made on social media, I was called about a week earlier and asked about my willingness to serve with an active, young team. When I joined the BJP in February, I felt I am on the right track,” she said.
Recalling memories of her father, Vidya said she had only met him once when she was around six years of age.
“I know the person that my father is. I don’t know much about the cases against him. But, he was a good human being and the public told me this. I’m proud of the good human being that he was,” Vidya said.
She asserted that she would appreciate it when naysayers question her about work rather than attack her on the personal front. “If they ask about my profession and social service, that would be a constructive discussion. But if at all they resort to personal slurs, let them be. I’m not someone who would care about it,” she added.
