Vidya Rani, Daughter Of Slain Sandalwood Smuggler Veerappan, Joins BJP

Vidya Rani, daughter of slain sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday at an event organised in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri. She joined the saffron party in the presence of party general secretary Muralidhar Rao and former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan.

Along with Vidya Rani, 1000 others joined the BJP, reported ANI. "I want to work for the poor and underprivileged irrespective of their caste and religion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schemes are for the people and I want to take them to the people," said Vidya Rani.

Vidya Rani, 29, said she was inspired by the welfare schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which prompted her to join the party, reported Indian Express.

Veerappan, an Indian bandit, had started as an assistant to his relative Saalvai Gounder, who was a notorious poacher and sandalwood smuggler. His father and relatives were also known to be poachers and smugglers. Veerappan entered the world of crime in 1969 and was first arrested in 1972.

Initially, Veerappan was as a sandalwood and ivory smuggler and killed elephants for the latter.

The political instability in South India and particularly, Tamil Nadu, helped Veerappan in escaping away. The jurisdiction problems in state also excerbated things and prevented police officers from entering other states to apprehend the notorious smuggler.

He was killed by Tamil Nadu Special Task Force. He was charged with sandalwood smuggling in states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.