Amidst a sense of pleasurable expectancy of the Supreme Court giving a favourable ruling followed by the subsequent despair with the court refusing to meet Congress’s soaring expectation, the embattled former Chief Minister Harish Rawat celebrated his 69th birthday at his Bijapur residence on Wednesday. Rawat had earlier declared that he would not celebrate the day like previous years with the State being embroiled in a legal/ constitutional tangle. However, the presence of hundreds of enthusiastic party workers made him change his mind. After the Apex Court deferred the hearing of the case till May 3 while putting off the floor test slated on April 29, gloom descended on the complex. Even the media persons who thronged to get the first reaction from the ex-CM on the expected SC ruling returned disappointed.
Visibly tense, Rawat cut the cake brought by the members of the party’s women and students’ affiliates. But he had a little and offered a piece to all the visitors who turned up to greet the battle-hardened leader who has been fighting the gravest battle of his chequered political career.
Despite the ritual being done, Rawat looked downcast all through. He appealed to the people to continue supporting him through thick and thin. But his gait lacked the characteristic candour. A tragic grandeur seemed to be hovering over his persona.
This year’s birthday was a sharp contrast to the previous year’s. The last birthday triggered a controversy as a senior cop had gifted him with a cake with the State’s map decorating its top. Rawat , however, stopped short of cutting the cake , sparing thus himself and others the flak that was sure to rush in. This year, however, things were conspicuous by the absence of any exuberance. His followers were there in good number. But they looked restrained. However, this time, Rawat’s daughter Anupma Rawat shared the dais with her father, lending the subdued celebrated a family flavor.
Many foot soldiers of Congress brought crackers, anticipating reinstatement of their leader by the Supreme Court. But such a ruling remaining elusive, the pith of the celebration toned down. “We are indeed a bit depressed. We, of course, expected a favourable ruling from the Apex Court, upholding the ruling of the division bench of the State High Court. But we would not give up. Harish Rawat personifies a never-say-die spirit, indomitable optimism. We, his followers, would emulate him,” said a Congress worker who came from a far-away place.
Though in the thick of a deepening crisis, Rawat did not forget to remember God. He visited the famous Tapkeshwar Temple. Asked what he had prayed for, Rawat said he prayed to God to spare his State a repeat of the 2013 deluge.
“Monson is approaching. Besides, the Char Dham Yatra is about to start. I pray for large footfalls at the yatra. It is important as it would help the State achieve an economic turnaround,” he said. “At the same time, I pray that the people of my State would never cease loving me as one of their own, who cares for them and tries to do his bit to better things for them,” the former CM said.a