Much awaited appearance of Congress 'Yuvraj' Rahul Gandhi before Jharkhand people presented a pale picture when he met few and left uncounted others in the lurch. First, his walled interaction with handpicked tribal and minority leaders could not answer the root cause of their piercing questions and later the much hyped road show had to be curtailed substantially due to “security reasons”.
When Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi arrived at venue of his meeting, Hotel Ashoka, at 11.15 on Friday morning a large number of women were stopped outside the gate which got closed. The 'pick and choose' irked many. “Do they want just tribal votesIJ Are we not womenIJ Don't we have problemsIJ We came here after traveling so long but not getting entry,” gushed Kavita coming from lapung.
The disappointment was also among the activists of NSUI and Youth Congress who angrily raised slogans outside the gate. Among the protesters were hawkers of the State who were demanding the Street Vendors' Bill to be passed. Those denied entry also included Congress MlA from Jamshedpur (East) Banna Gupta. Women were seen breast feeding their crying hungry children outside the gate. Resentment was also among 'Edara-e-Sharia' leader. “Congress had sought names from us but later dropped our leaders from the list. They tried to divide Muslim community thus we boycotted the interaction,”said Md Saeed.
The hyper arrangement made some senior leaders of the party annoyed as well. “It is unfortunate for the people of the State that due to security arrangements they could not meet leaders they want. It is regrettable for Jharkhand,” said Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay. Some other even questioned the purpose such 'road shows' can fulfill for the party, especially in the election year.
“What the party need from Rahul Gandhi at this moment is his ideas about the State which can win votes. Such meetings are not going to prove anything,” said a senior party leader. Nevertheless his interaction with select group of women and representatives of minority community failed to transpire anything new. “Everyone provide energy to the country and we cannot leave alone anyone. Without women empowerment this country is not going to stand on its feet. Most of you gather here would agree with me that women have not been given their due powers,” said Rahul in his brief address to women.
When in the evening he talked to minority community, the Congress vice-president reiterated the 'unity in diversity' mantra. “No one should be frightened in this country. Work can be done here only by love and not by anger. If you adopt anger then the country would not move forward. Gandhiji also told Britishers by love and peace to leave India. Yahan sirf bhaichara chalta hai,” said Rahul in a veiled attack on his bête noir Narendra Modi.
Rahul, though, lauded his party to work immensely for bringing openness and empowerment by enacting laws for RTI, land Acquisition and Food Security but at the same time also admitted that political system had been a close-door affair confined to few hundreds. “We want to change the system. At present 400-500 handpicked people are running India. Instead there should be lakhs who should run the country. Congress is willing to give rights to all but when we are doing this we are being attacked,” said the Gandhi scion. He also criticised Opposition parties for not allowing anti-corruption bill and others important being passed from Parliament and said non-discussion on serious bills is what that irks him a lot. His listeners raised issues like displacement, tribal losing their lands, non representation of Christians and other minorities in politics, denial of right to panchayats, waqf board and madarsa issues and Bengali community. Moreover those who managed to go inside came out satisfied. Former Ranchi Mayor Rama Khalko lauded Rahul for his concern about central schemes and state of health and education in Jharkhand. Hemlata, an anganwadi worker of Ratu said, “He said that more and more people should come to the organsiation and also stressed on NREGA and women empowerment. About 20 women expressed their views before Rahul,” said. Munia Ekka was that Rahul promised to work for Sarana code and women reservation.