Amitabh Shukla | Solan
After the successful rallies of
Narendra Modi in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress replied effectively on Thursday
with two back-to-back rallies of party vice president Rahul Gandhi at Bilaspur
in Hamirpur constituency and Solan in Shimla constituency.
Being more of a show of strength
as Modi had addressed a massive rally here only two days ago, the Congress had
mobilised all its resources to ensure maximum presence at the grounds of the
Police Lines here in Solan, ensuring a massive traffic snarl on the serpentine
hill road connecting State Capital Shimla to the plains. The picturesque ground
was full to the capacity and youth dominated the audience even as vehicles
mounted with loudspeakers roamed all around Solan asking people to “benefit”
from the words of Gandhi.
Despite the hype and
mobilisation, Gandhi did not say anything which he has not said in his rallies
all over the country, he nevertheless linked Modi with RSS and accused the
organisation of a regressive ideology in his two rallies.
“This is a clash of two
ideologies. Our thinking is to take everyone along, we think about a
Hindustani, they (BJP) think about other divisions... They only use the word
“me” while Congress uses the word “we”. Congress talks to everybody, they do
not do so,” said the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty on a bright sunny day.
The Himachalis listened with rapt attention, occasionally applauding.
Gandhi also brought in his
oft-repeated accusation against the alleged links of Modi with the Adani group
and how land was given to it for a song, forgetting that land acquisition was
hardly a poll issue in Himachal Pradesh as it is a hilly State and large scale
acquisition was not possible except for power projects.
The connect of Gandhi with the
people whom he was addressing was clearly missing even as most those who had
come to the venue were Congress supporters brought in all types of vehicles
from far-off regions of the State, including from the tribal areas of Kinnaur
and even Lahaul and Spiti. The local leaders who had brought in the bus load of
people proudly displayed their banners and names to take the mileage as Chief
Minister Virbhadra Singh was there and so was Youth Congress president
Vikramaditya Singh. A lot of them were disappointed as Gandhi did not touch on
the issue of remunerative prices for apples and taking steps against imported
apples which people from the upper hills wanted to hear.
A group in the rally was carrying
the banner of ex-servicemen and when Gandhi brought in the issue of One-rank-one-pension,
there was a buzz and some excitement in this group. With armed forces a sought
after career option in Himachal Pradesh, the issue also jelled with the
volunteers of the youth Congress,
some of whom wanted to join the
services.
But clearly, the local connect
and highlighting local issues was missing from both the rallies as he merely
focused on the issues being raked up by the party nationally.
“You have a Congress Government
in Himachal Pradesh. If you also have a Congress Government at the Centre,
there can be an effective partnership. We will extend all possible help for
Himachal’s progress. Support Congress and elect our candidates to forge a good
partnership and to transform Himachal Pradesh,” he said. This was perhaps the only
statement of Gandhi which pertained to Himachal Pradesh.
The Congress vice president again
harped on the “Rights” which the UPA Government brought in the last 10 years
and said if voted to power, the party would bring in right to health and right
to minimum pension for the elderly.
Gandhi claimed that Congress
would push 70 crore people in the middle class in the next five years. “We gave
you right to food, we want to give more…” Gandhi continued in one of the most
prosperous States of the country, where not many would utilise the freebies
which the UPA Government has been doling out and promising.
In Shimla, Congress candidate
Mohan Lal Brakta is pitted against sitting BJP MP Virendra Kashyap.
It is a traditional Congress
stronghold but BJP has made massive gains in recent years and won it after a
long gap in 2009. Locals here say that the electoral battle in this reserved
seat, comprising a huge geographical area, is tantalisingly close as Chief
Minister Virbhadra Singh has put in a lot of effort in campaigning despite his
age. (May 2, 1014 )
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