Intrigued by the NaMo wave sweeping across the nation, Sunday’s Vikas Rally in the Capital saw diplomats in attendance. The rally, a first in the city since Modi was declared BJP’s Prime Minister probable, managed to be a powerful lodestone drawing representatives from nearly three dozen foreign missions. Attachés of France, Germany, Russia and Sweden hung on to every word articulated by Modi at Japanese Park in Rohini.
The dignitaries were seated on a dais next to the pulpit from where the Gujarat Chief Minister delivered his address. According to Vijay Jolly, convenor of BJP’s Foreign Affairs Cell, invites had been sent to emissaries of European and African nations. Some neighbouring countries too had been invited to the rally. “Representatives from various foreign missions accepting our (BJP) invitation turned up to hear our party’s Prime Minister contender,” he said.
Modi has this amazing ability to feed on a crowd. He feeds on that energy and it feels like he’s really talking to them. He is known to reach out directly to his group in the eternal way of the demagogue. Some of the envoys who listened attentively to his rhetoric were from France, Peru, Sweden, Russia, Ethiopia, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan, China, Bangladesh, Trinidad and Tobago and Uzbekistan.
A few from the Commonwealth of Independent States also attended the development rally of Modi in the Capital. Invitations had been sent to over 80 foreign missions, out of which 36 had confirmed their membership. “This only reflects the global reach and acceptability of Modi mantra of governance,” said the convenor.
But the British High Commission and US ambassador, Nancy Powell, were both conspicuous by their absence. Explaining the reason for the absence of Powell and the British High Commissioner at the rally, Jolly clarified, “The US Embassy has informed us that Ambassador Nancy Powell is in Washington. The British High Commissioner, James Bevan, is also travelling overseas. Hence, neither could make it to the rally.”