Rahul Gandhi praises widow for saving 10 Muslims during Muzaffarpur riots
"You emerged as a ray of hope and stood firm during the riots," Rahul said in the letter he wrote to Devi on January 23.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has sent a congratulatory message to Shail Devi - a Hindu woman belonging to an economically backward family - for saving the lives of 10 Muslims during the recent communal clashes in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district.
"You emerged as a ray of hope and stood firm during the riots," Rahul said in the letter he wrote to Devi on January 23.
Devi, a widow in her early 50s, gave shelter to Muslim neighbours by risking her life when a mob of more than 5,000 people attacked Azizpur Bahilwara village after a 20-year-old Hindu boy was found dead on January 18.
She was later felicitated by Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Rahul used the opportunity to take a dig at the BJP, which rules the Centre, without naming the saffron outfit that is believed to be behind the riots. The BJP was part of the Janata Dal-United-led coalition government in Bihar till 2013.
Noting that "the country was ruled by parties that promote social tension to further their political ends," Rahul said, "your (Devi's) effort to show courage and promote social harmony in saving the lives of 10 people from religious fundamentalists is praiseworthy."
The Congress vice-president told Devi, who has become a local hero, in his letter that people like her have kept the country united and said the Congress will always support such people.
"People like you have kept the country united. The Congress will always stand by the courage of such people and the secular values of the nation," said Rahul.
He expressed the hope that other people will take inspiration from Devi's act of bravery.
"I hope people will get inspired by your courage and will serve the country better," he said.
The Congress vice-president's letter comes at a time when the party is striving to gain ground in Bihar, which will go to Assembly polls by the year end.
The saffron party is pushing itself very aggressively in the state after the BJP-LJP-RLSP combine won 31 of 40 Lok Sabha seats.
The Congress is yet to decide whether it should go in for a pre-poll alliance after the RJDCongress-NCP coalition won seven seats and the JD-U managed to bag only two Lok Sabha seats.
Meanwhile, Devi hoisted the national flag at the Bihar Congress headquarters in Patna on the occasion of 66th Republic Day. Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary handed over a citation from Rahul to the woman and a cheque of Rs 51,000 in recognition of her bravery.
Moved by her act, CMJitan Ram Manjhi had earlier dubbed her as Rani Lakhshmi Bai and gave her a cheque of Rs 51,000.
Devi, whose husband died around five years ago, lives with her two minor daughters.