Ahead of the crucial Budget Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stalwarts of the Janata Parivar displayed an unprecedented bonhomie at Tilak ceremony of Tej Pratap, grandnephew of Samajwadi Party supreme, Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is to marry Raj lakshmi, daughter of RJD supreme, lal Prasad.
Shedding all political differences with the Janata parivar chieftains, Modi flew to Yadav’s native village in Saifai at Etawah, where the top leadership of Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal(U) besides a galaxy of celebrities were present to attend the Tilak ceremony on Saturday morning. While family members of Mulayam Singh and lalu Prasad proceeded with the customary rituals of Tilak, discussions in political circles veered around palpable proximity between Modi and leaders of Opposition Parties.
The speculation gained momentum in the wake of the government’s need to get Rajya Sabha approval for some crucial Bills particularly land Acquisition Bill. The Opposition has more numbers in the Upper House and its cooperation is necessary for passing the legislation, especially to replace the six ordinances promulgated after the winter session. While the BJP has only 46 members in Rajya Sabha, the Congress has 67, Samajwadi Party 15, Janata Dal (U) 12, AIADMK and Trinamool Congress, 11 each and BSP 10.
Interestingly, Modi had recently also chosen to attend a function with NCP stalwart Sharad Pawar in Maharahtra, adding grist to rumour mills as NCP too has six members in the House. However, the Samajwadi Party leaders have stated that it was only a social function without political overtones. The Prime Minister, on arrival at Saifai at 10:40am was received at the airstrip by SP chief Mulayam Singh and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The SP supremo presented a shawl to Modi. He was also welcomed by RJD leader lalu Prasad. Mainpuri MP Tej Pratap and Raj lakshmi, youngest daughter of lalu Prasad had got engaged on December 16. They will tie the knot on February 26 in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister was also seen in jolly mood speaking with the children of the Yadav family. He even gave the lens men an opportunity to click a picture with them. Women members of the lalu family also got photographed with Modi. Akhilesh Yadav’s son Arjun was seen talking to Prime Minister and even sat on his lap. This wedding would be the first ever opportunity of the trio Modi-Mulayam-lalu to come on a dais sans differences. Several VVIPs arrival got delayed due to the Prime Minister’s visit. Bollywood suprerstar Amitabh Bachchan and his family also attended the function.
The tilak ceremony started here at around 10 am and continued for one hour. Former Union Minister and RJD leader Raghuvash Prasad Singh, who came from Bihar with lalu Prasad, claimed that this was a rare occasion with all people joining the pre-marriage ceremony. ‘’History has been created in Saifai today with PM attending the function”, he said. The guests were served mouth-watering vegetarian Indian delicacies, including Bihar’s batti-chokha after the ceremony, which was attended by around more than 100,000 people, including 5,000 VVIPs. Delicacies with focus on Indian cuisine have been prepared by chefs from Delhi and Mumbai. More than 1.5 lakh people have been invited to attend the pre-wedding bash. The bride would not be present during the function but Prasad’s entire family was there. Interestingly, lalu Prasad refused to talk about politics after he reachede for the tilak ceremony from New Delhi. ‘’No politics till my daughter’s Bidai on February 27,’’ he said.
However, the RJD president told reporters that Mulayam Singh Yadav is a great leader and grateful that his youngest daughter is married in his family. ‘’Mulayam Singhji is the most respected political leader of the country,’’ he added. lalu Prasad, along with his relatives, had reached Saifai on Friday evening by a tourist bus from New Delhi. Several Bihar legislators and political leaders accompanied him. The Yadav family of Saifai has made special arrangements for their stay in makeshift Swiss cottages which have been named as ‘Biharpuram’. To entertain the guests, a musical night was organised where renowned singer Adnan Sami performed.
Saifai has virtually turned into a fortress with security personnel deployed in each corner in view of the presence of such a large number of VVIPs. The government has deployed eight SPs, 15 ASPs, 35 DSPs, 61 Inspectors, 300 sub-inspectors, 1400 civil police along with 11 companies of PAC and two companies of RAF. Besides this, there would be eight additional district magistrate and 10 SDM-level officers to control the crowd. Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into the service. Even Director General of Police, AK Jain, was present to directly supervise the security arrangements.
The Prime Minister after blessing Tej Pratap joined the lunch orgainsed by the SP chief at the nearby guest house. later, Modi left for Agra from where he went to the residence of Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development Ram Shanker Kateria to bless his niece Uma, who is slated to marry in a day or two. After the visit of Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave his blessings to Tej Pratap. Thereafter, Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan along with his MP wife Jaya Bachchan reached Saifai to wish the Mainpuri MP. Around 1 lakh guests had a luxurious vegetarian lunch on the occassion which was attended by almost all UP ministers and leaders of other political parties.