Mahipal Negi Exposes Shambhu Paswan’s Dubious Claims on Displacement and Caste Certificate
“Shambhu Paswan, please step forward…”
Recently elected Mayor of Rishikesh, Shambhu Paswan claims he is a displaced person from the Tehri Dam project—based on which he acquired a caste certificate. In his nomination papers, Shambhu stated he passed 8th grade from Bettiah, Bihar, in 1983 and listed his age as 58, meaning he was born in 1966. So, he passed 8th grade at 17. Not unusual—but a little more education wouldn’t have hurt.
Now, let’s dig deeper. In the same nomination, he stated that his wife Lalita is 55 and daughter Sunita is 37. That implies he got married around 1986, or earlier—meaning Shambhu was about 19 or 20 and Lalita around 16 or 17. Basically, a case of child marriage.
But that’s not the main issue. Here’s the problem, Shambhu ji—perhaps you’re unaware that the cut-off date for displacement under the Tehri Dam rehabilitation policy is 1985. You passed 8th in Bihar in 1983, so how did you show up in Tehri in 1984 and magically become eligible for displacement by 1985? On what grounds?
At most, you could have been a tenant, but your name doesn’t appear in the tenant registers, nor in the list of shopkeepers, landless, or leaseholders. I checked all 10 wards. No “Shambhu Paswan” or “Nageshwar Paswan” appears as a displaced person. Even if you came before 1985 as a child laborer for the dam, workers weren’t eligible for displacement benefits under the policy.
Did you run a cart or work as a scrap dealer? If so, your name should’ve shown up in the municipal records—yet it doesn’t.
Your daughter Sunita was born in 1987, sons Santosh in 1990 and Mantosh in 1992. Were they born in Tehri? Are their birth certificates from there? Were you listed in the 1991 or 2001 census? Ever voted in Tehri? Was your name ever in a family register? Did you have a ration card there?
So what’s the story—did you come to Tehri, get displaced instantly, and move to Rishikesh with full benefits in hand? Even some of the families who came with King Sudarshan Shah 200 years ago haven’t been properly rehabilitated yet!
Even if you did get rehabilitation benefits, tell us this—how did you amass crores worth of property in Rishikesh so quickly? Two hotels, multiple plots in your and your wife’s name—adding up to around 3–4 crores in assets. Yet, your nomination doesn’t mention receiving any land, flat, or shop under the Tehri rehabilitation scheme. The only property you list is agricultural land in Bettiah, Bihar.
If you had no property in Uttar Pradesh or Uttarakhand before 1985, no birth certificate, no family register—how did you even get a caste certificate from Uttarakhand or UP? If it was issued, it’s either fake or obtained through questionable means.
And listen carefully, Shambhu! Your three kids were all born after 1985—did they also get caste certificates? If yes, you’re in for more trouble.
Whether or not you remain mayor using the power of politics, whether your caste certificate is upheld or not, your party will bear the bigger loss. Best to resign now and quietly return to Bihar. You’ve made enough money—maybe run for the assembly there. Who knows, you might even become a minister or MP someday. Just some sincere advice—you’ll remember it.
(From the pen of Mahipal Negi)
