GENERAL ELECTIONS 2014
The penultimate day of campaigning in Varanasi
Narendra Modi addressed five rallies, 2 in Eastern Uttar
Pradesh (in Mirzapur and Ghazipur, adjoining areas of Varanasi )
and 3 in Bihar, and the issue of denial of permission to his election events in
Varanasi
BJP continued protesting and demanding the Varanasi DM’s
removal. On the contrary, as reported, the DM sent a report to the Central
Election Commission on Modi’s road-show yesterday on violation of Section 144.
The CEC maintained its stand on defending the acts of the
DM. Meanwhile a report came that claimed that some security personnel from Gujarat had claimed security threat for Modi with
Beniabagh rally venue.
The other major Varanasi-centric event of the day was
Arvind Kejriwal’s road-show in Varanasi
It was sad to see the surroundings when the road-show
began. There were not enough people, not enough even to count for the reported
5000 AAP volunteers camping in the city, who have come to the city there from
different parts of the city. Looking at the convoy and thinking of the window
of opportunity that the AAP experiment could have been, it indeed felt like a sad
day for the long awaited experiment with democracy in India
Though, the road-show got more people on its sides as the
evening progressed, it was in patches and was nowhere near to the consistent
and spontaneous crowds seen last evening during Narendra Modi’s road-show.
The day also saw an event that unfortunately, has become
an AAP trademark – gaining publicity and sympathy through controversy by
creating public spectacle. Raghu Ram, AAP member and MTV Roadies judge, alleged
that he and Gul Panag were attacked (manhandled) by some BHU students.
Gul Panag later tweeted denying it. But the claim of
manhandling with Mr. Raghu Ram maintained its stand. Now, it is to be seen in
the context that Raghu Ram has had history of making such cheap publicity
claims. In 2011, after claiming, he denied that his face was blackened by the ABVP
activists. He cannot be trusted.
Instead, Banarasis and BHU should denounce such people who
try to defame the place and its institutions. No doubt there are many faults
and layers of wrongs with Banaras and BHU but
none make for the kind of cheap allegations put forward by the AAP’s spokesperson
and Raghu Ram.
But it is not going to end here. Tomorrow’s events are
going to be like it has been since May 7. Rahul Gandhi’s road-show is scheduled
for tomorrow’s morning that will begin from the city’s outskirts on Rajghat’s
side (Peeli Kothi) and will conclude at the Lanka Gate of BHU. And to add to
the heat, there would be other planned and unplanned political events.
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
