With Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati scheduled to address a public rally ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the crowd poured in, in hordes.
On Saturday, though, the venue was a study in contrast ahead of former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani's visit to the city. That Advani would arrive on board a helicopter also did not seem to help. Men, women and children came, but many left before the senior BJP leader could even make his address. Party workers attempted to justify the low turnout. In Mayawati' rallies, crowds are managed. She sends people transport to lure them into coming to the grounds. In BJP, that never happens. People bear the expenses for participating in these rallies. They do it for the love of Shri Ram,'' said Ashoka Dwivedi, a local BJP official.
In neighbouring Ayodhya, only four kilometres from the rally venue, a sense of discomfort gripped the city. Streets were nearly deserted at noon, with security personnel nearly doubled in strength to ensure peace ahead of the Barawafat celebrations on Sunday.
Earlier, Ayodhya did not have this kind of tension. All festivals were celebrated, without any one putting up a show. Ever since 1992, when this assumed political proportions, there's additional fanfare while preparing for all religious festivities,'' said Ramvati Devi, a resident of Ayodhya.
Clearly, the temple issue, which most political parties are regarding as a spent force is still ranging. On Saturday, it also remained central to Advani's speech. Raking up the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue, he emphasised he would not consider his political career a success until a grand temple'' was built where 'Ram Lulla' was born. Appearing more nostalgic than forward looking ahead of the assembly elections, Advani spoke of the Rath Yatra he started from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya.
Though the veteran politician was careful to remain politically correct throughout, his address wasn't without an embarrassing faux pas. Advani seemed to have forgotten UP elections would be held in 7 phases. Repeatedly saying the state would go to polls in 4 phases, Advani only corrected himself after party leader sharing the dias pointed out the error.
He said, Somnath temple was razed to ground like the Ayodhya temple. It was rebuilt under the realm of Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. In the same vein, my rath yatra was an attempt to tell former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that the same should be done for Ayodhya.'' If the people of Ayodhya were waiting that the BJP leader would promise them a temple would be built, though, no such promise was forthcoming from Advani.
Curiously, development was an agenda that did not find mention in Advani's speech. Corruption, of which Congress was the fountainhead, Advani alleged, was mentioned. If there were local concerns and corruption among regional leaders, Advani did not deem them worthy of mention.
Neither the Mayawati government, nor the Samajwadi Party was referred to; instead, Advani held the Congress responsible for poverty in India. They speak of lack of growth in UP for 22 years. I ask them why poverty has increased since India became independent 64 years ago, much of it under the Congress rule.''
Advani also raked up the issue of black money - Rs 25 lakh crore of which, he said, was parked outside India in Swiss accounts''. He said, If that money comes back to India, poverty will be a thing of the past. India will be a changed country.'' If BJP is projecting the image of a party hopeful of forming the next government in UP, Advani's address made no mention of it at all.
Focusing heavily on the government that would rule at the Centre, he said, There are only two viable options-the Congress and the BJP. I advise you all to choose carefully. Consider the concerns of your region and state, but also think of India. Choose the party which, you believe, has served you with the maximum amount of honesty.'' After finishing his address, Advani also said he would visit the Ram Janmabhoomi, to pay obeisance to the Lord.
