UpdateBot at 04:40, 19 May 2022

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{{short description|Indian politician}}

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Anjali Damania
| image =
| alt =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| nationality = Indian
| education = Graduation
| profession = [[Pathologist]]
| occupation = Politician
| party = [[Aam Aadmi Party]] {{small|(2012—present)}}
| spouse = Anish Damania
| children = 2
}}
'''Anjali Anish Damania''' is an Indian anti-corruption activist and politician. She was the convener of [[Maharashtra]] state unit of [[Aam Admi Party]] (AAP).<ref>{{cite web|title=Senior AAP Leader Anjali Damania quits the Party|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/senior-aap-leader-anjali-damania-quits-the-party/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=5 June 2014}}</ref> During 2011–12, she exposed corruption in the Kondhane dam project through [[Right to Information Act|RTI]] queries. She came into the limelight in 2012, after she accused the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] President [[Nitin Gadkari]] of having a business partnership with the [[Nationalist Congress Party]] chief [[Sharad Pawar]].<ref name="BS_Nifty_2012"/> She unsuccessfully contested [[2014 Indian general election|2014 Lok Sabha elections]] from [[Nagpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Nagpur]], as an [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]] candidate against Gadkari. However, in March 2015, she quit the AAP amid allegations of horse trading against national convener and [[Delhi]] CM [[Arvind Kejriwal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Anjali Damania quits AAP amid allegations of horse-trading against Arvind Kejriwal|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Anjali-Damania-quits-AAP-amid-allegations-of-horse-trading-against-Arvind-Kejriwal/articleshow/46527691.cms|work=TNN|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|accessdate=11 March 2015}}</ref> She has filed several PIL's against powerful politicians like [[Chhagan Bhujbal]] and [[Eknath Khadse]]. On 2 June 2016 she went on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of Eknath Khadse,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/ex-aap-leader-anjali-damania-begins-fast-to-seek-khadse-s-ouster-116060200466_1.html|title=Ex-AAP leader Anjali Damania begins fast to seek Khadse's ouster|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2016-06-02|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref> which resulted in Khadse's resignation from the position of Maharashtra state Revenue Minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/eknath-khadse-land-row-former-aap-leader-anjali-damania-ends-hunger-strike-2835460/|title=As Eknath Khadse resigns, former AAP leader Anjali Damania ends hunger strike|date=2016-06-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref>

== Anti-Corruption Activism ==

=== Eknath Khadse matter ===
Anjali Damania accused Khadse of misuse of office and corruption on his Bhosari MIDC land grabbing matter. She went on hunger strike against Khadse and demanded probe. She filed [[Public interest litigation in India|PIL]] against him. Khadse, in retaliation, filed a case against her in [[Muktainagar]] police station for making alleged false and defamatory statements against him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/sep/06/now-what-exactly-did-bjp-leader-khadse-mean-by-boasting-about-his-mangoes-1653319.amp|title = Now what exactly did BJP leader Khadse mean by boasting about his mangoes? - the New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>https://www.timesofindia.com/city/mumbai/eknath-khadse-slaps-rs-10-crore-defamation-case-on-activist-anjali-damania/amp_articleshow/63852772.cms {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

=== Kondhane dam issue ===
A [[pathologist]] by profession,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/xf6V0v1j0KjRuYPljjGcCN/Anjali-Damania-The-lady-behind-the-trouble-in-Maharashtra.html|title=Anjali Damania: The lady who dug up an irrigation scam|last=Gadgil|first=Makarand|date=2012-09-27|website=Livemint|language=en|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref> Anjali Damania owned a 30-acre farm in the [[Kondivade Andar Mawal|Kondivade]] village of [[Raigad district]]. In 2011, the government sent her a notice, stating that her land would be acquired for the construction of the Kondhane dam. In June 2011, she sent a letter to the Irrigation Department, asking for location of the dam as she wanted to check if her land would be submerged. She then went out of the country. When she returned in August, she found that the work on the dam had already started. She filed the [[Right to Information|RTI]] queries to know more about the project. Initially, she did not get any replies. After complaining to the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), she received responses and found several irregularities.<ref name="NDTV_ready_2012">{{cite news |title=They were ready to pay me whatever I wanted: Anjali Damania to ndtv.com | url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/they-were-ready-to-pay-me-whatever-i-wanted-anjali-damania-to-ndtv-com-273151 |publisher=NDTV |date=28 September 2012 }}</ref> She found that the cost of the project had escalated from {{INRConvert|560|m}} to {{INRConvert|3.28|b}} in just one month after the contract was awarded. This increase was a result of a local elected representative's demand that the height of the dam be increased from 39 meters to 71 meters. In April 2012, along with another landowner Ajay Mathankar, she filed a [[Public Interest Litigation]] (PIL) in the [[Bombay High Court]]. The litigation ultimately forced the government to cancel the tender for the project.<ref>{{cite news |last=Naik |first=Yogesh |title=Warrior duo that sunk Ajit Pawar |accessdate=5 October 2012 |newspaper=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |date=26 September 2012 |url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/cover-story/Warrior-duo-that-sunk-Ajit-Pawar/articleshow/16968161.cms}}</ref> She also noticed similar cost escalations in other projects: the Kalu dam in [[Thane district]], the Balganga dam in [[Raigad district]] and the Shai dam in the Thane district.<ref name=":0" /> The irregularities were found to be part of the bigger [[Maharashtra Irrigation Scam]] exposed by [[Vijay Pandhare]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/reservoir-of-corruption-39316|title=Reservoir of corruption|website=downtoearth.org.in|language=en|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref>

=== Allegations against Nitin Gadkari ===

In September 2012, [[Vijay Pandhare]]'s letter detailing the [[Maharashtra Irrigation Scam]] was leaked to the media, leading to the resignation of irrigation minister [[Ajit Pawar]] (nephew of the [[Nationalist Congress Party]] chief [[Sharad Pawar]]). Subsequently, Anjali Damania claimed that she had met the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) President [[Nitin Gadkari]] thrice – twice in 2011 and once on 14 August 2012 – requesting him to pursue such cases in public interest. She alleged that Gadkari told her that he had a business relationship with Sharad Pawar, and therefore, he would not pursue the case.<ref name="NDTV_ready_2012" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-says-anjali-damania-targeted-gadkari-because-of-her-own-land-issues/301035-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020234736/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-says-anjali-damania-targeted-gadkari-because-of-her-own-land-issues/301035-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2012|title=BJP says Anjali Damania targeted Gadkari because of her own land issues|date=18 October 2012|publisher=IBNLive}}</ref> Gadkari rejected the allegations, saying that he had never met Damania, and sued her for defamation. The BJP denied any link between Gadkari and Pawar.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anjali-damania-bjp-nitin-gadkari-irrigation-scam/1/222401.html|title=Anjali Damania accuses Nitin Gadkari of refusing to take up irrigation scam; BJP denies charge|date=27 September 2012|publisher=India Today / Headlines Today}}</ref>

She also alleged that Gadkari tried to prevent the BJP leader [[Kirit Somaiya]] from filing a PIL against the scam.<ref name=":0" /> In October 2012, she told media that Gadkari had misused his political contacts to usurp agricultural land in Khursapur for his firm Purti Power and Sugar Ltd (PPSL). [[The Times of India]] followed up on her allegations, and revealed that the company's shareholders included several [[shell corporation]]s. Subsequently, the income tax department raided Gadkari's companies and associated firms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-18/nagpur/45336410_1_anjali-damania-aap-candidate-nitin-gadkari|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111191201/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-18/nagpur/45336410_1_anjali-damania-aap-candidate-nitin-gadkari|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 January 2014|title=AAP's Anjali Damania to contest LS poll from city to "challenge" Gadkari|author=Abhishek Choudhari|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 December 2013}}</ref> Gadkari had to step down as the BJP President in January 2013, after several party leaders including [[Yashwant Sinha]] protested against him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/bjp-dumps-nitin-gadkari-gives-rajnath-singh-his-job-113012200591_1.html|title=BJP dumps Nitin Gadkari, gives Rajnath Singh his job|date=22 January 2013|publisher=Business Standard}}</ref> In December 2013, Gadkari stated that no evidence of corruption had been found against him despite all the investigations and the media hype.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-30/india/45708210_1_nitin-gadkari-purti-group-purti-case|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103125737/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-30/india/45708210_1_nitin-gadkari-purti-group-purti-case|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|title=Haven't got a single notice in Purti case: Nitin Gadkari|date=30 December 2013}}</ref> Damania refused to back out from her charges against Gadkari.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-01-25/news/46601285_1_nitin-gadkari-alleged-irrigation-scam-aam-aadmi-party|title=AAP will keep on exposing Nitin Gadkari: Anjali Damania|date=25 January 2014|newspaper=Economic Times}}</ref>

=== Kharvandi land controversy ===

After Damania filed the PIL against the Kondhane dam in April 2012, the [[tehsildar]] Jagatsingh Girase initiated an inquiry of all the land owned by her in the [[Karjat]] [[tehsil]]. Girase announced that Damania had provided inadequate proof of being a farmer for purchasing the land. The land was taken back by the government in 2012. Damania stated that she had followed all the legal processes required for changing the land use, and was being targeted for exposing the government corruption.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/iac-member-anjali-damania-bought-farm-land-then-sold-it-after-changing-land-use/1018968/0 | title = IAC member Anjali Damania bought farm land, then sold it after changing land use | date = 19 October 2012 | author = Stuti Shukla | newspaper =The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=IAC activist Anjali Damania, who targeted Gadkari, faces heat over farm land deal |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/iac-activist-anjali-damania-faces-heat-over-farm-land-deal/1/225383.html |date=19 October 2012 | publisher = India Today/Headlines Today}}</ref>

== Political career ==

She joined the [[India Against Corruption]] (IAC) movement of [[Anna Hazare]] in 2011. After IAC split, she joined the [[Aam Aadmi Party]], and became the convener of its Maharashtra unit.<ref>{{cite news |title=AAP to contest all Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra: Anjali Damania | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-01-08/news/45991566_1_anjali-damania-aap-ticket-maharashtra |date=8 January 2014}}</ref>

===2014 Lok Sabha election===

Damania contested 2014 general election unsuccessfully from Nagpur constituency. She secured 69,081 votes, finishing fourth and losing her deposit. She lost to former BJP president [[Nitin Gadkari]] who secured 587,767 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://eciresults.ap.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS1310.htm?ac=10 |title = Constituency-wise results: Nagpur |publisher = Election Commission of India |accessdate = 17 February 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140519033830/http://eciresults.ap.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS1310.htm?ac=10 |archive-date = 19 May 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mid-day.com/articles/elections-2014-salman-khurshid-medha-patkar-yogendra-yadav-among-prominent-faces-to-lose-deposit/15310171 | title = Elections 2014: Salman Khurshid, Medha Patkar, Yogendra Yadav among prominent faces to lose deposit | date = 19 May 2014 | newspaper = Mid-Day }}</ref>

On 5 June 2014, she announced her resignation from AAP, without stating any reason for her exit. However, she withdrew her resignation on the same day.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/anjali-damania-quits-aap/article1-1226197.aspx |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140715140214/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/anjali-damania-quits-aap/article1-1226197.aspx |url-status = dead |archive-date = 15 July 2014 |title = Anjali Damania withdraws resignation from AAP |date = 5 June 2014 |newspaper = Hindustan Times }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Anjali Damania's husband Anish Damania is the CEO at IDFC securities.<ref name="BS_Nifty_2012">{{cite news |title=Nifty crash raises political temperature | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/nifty-crash-raises-political-temperature-112100702015_1.html |date=7 October 2012}}</ref> The couple have two children. According to Damania, her father was in the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]], so she was brought up in an anti-corruption atmosphere.<ref name="NDTV_ready_2012" /> She obtained a diploma in Medical lab Technology from Premlila Vithaldas Polytechnic, Mumbai and later a Fellowship in Medical Laboratory Technology.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

* {{Facebook|anjali.damania.activist}}

{{Aam Aadmi Party |state=autocollapse}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Damania, Anjali}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian anti-corruption activists]]
[[Category:Freedom of information activists]]
[[Category:Indian pathologists]]
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Women in Maharashtra politics]]
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party politicians]]
[[Category:Indian tax resisters]]
[[Category:Marathi politicians]]
[[Category:Maharashtra politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Anjali Damania - Revision history

UpdateBot at 04:40, 19 May 2022