Marshalling his resources articulately and using his charisma to the hilt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi transformed his temple darshan into a seven-kilometre long roadshow breaking security protocol to undertake the slow tedious journey in a roof-open SUV in Varanasi on Saturday afternoon.
As his motorcade meandered through the byzantine lanes of the mythological city in excess of four hours, the Varanasi MP greeted people by folding hands, waving to them and showered those cheering from the roadside by showering them with petals even as the frenzied crowd bombarded the leader with slogans of ‘Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi’.
Although elected to the lok Sabha from Varanasi in 2014, Modi’s visit to the Temple town has been few and Saturday’sroadshow was his maiden one in his constituency. The only other time Modi was seen passing through Varanasi roads was during his nomination in 2014 elections.
On some occasions howver, the PM did offer prayer at Kashi Vishwanath temple and Maa (Goddess) Ganga and visited the BJP office in covered vehicle. The administration had refused him permission to travel in an open vehicle with Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to watch Ganga-Arti at Dashaswamedh Ghat two years back.
Throughout Modi’s roadshow, there was a natural flow of people thronging the roads in overwhelming numbers which must have troubled his political rivals to the core.
Modi’s visit was not without controversy as Congress leader Rajeev Shukla claimed that the BJP did not take permission for the roadhow while BJP leaders explained that the locals decided to accompany the PM on their own.
Modi reached the BHU helipad and was greeted by party leaders and workers and later started his ‘yatra’ by garlanding Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya’s statue near BHU gate. Thosuands of students, teachers’ locals and others greeted Modi from the roadside and from rooftop and showered petals on him at the start point at lanka. The scene continued throughout the route as the motorcade passed through the narrow lanes of Assi and Bhaidhaini where a group of Batuks (Sanskrit students) welcomed him reciting Manglacharan.
The security personnel had a tough time controlling the surging mob at the narrow lanes near Assi and sensitive Sonarpura and Muslim-dominated Madanpura areas. At Godowlia, the hearts of the city as well as the saffron forces, thousands of people assembled on all four corners raising slogans like ‘Har Har Mahadev’, ‘Jai Sriram’, ‘Vandematra’ etc.
At Kashi Vishwanath temple, Modi offered prayers guided by five priest. “We made all arrangements to maintain peace during this huge show,” said Divisional Commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn who along with other officers were present there.
After coming out of Gyanvapi premises, Modi continued his journey through various localities and by the time his motorcade reached Maidagin, it was almost covered with huge layers of marigold petals.
On reaching Kaal Bhairav temple, Modi he offered prayers and stayed for a few minutes and later returned to the BHU helipad in a covered vehicle and then flew to Jaunpur to address a poll meeting.
At Jaunpur, the Prime minister said that the Centre was going to enact a legislation by which miscreants grabbing houses, land and other properties would be jailed for seven years. Modi strongly raised the matter as east UP has been flooded with such complaints.
Expressing confidence over BJP’s victory in the elections, Modi said “We’d already won the elections and now Jaunpur’s people would give us bonus. Koi bahanebazi ab nahi chalengi,” he said adding that if the BJP came to power it would give all accounts of its work to the people after five years.
Attacking the SP-Congress alliance, Modi said, “Akhilesh told me that if I drove on Agra-lucknow Expressway, I would myself vote the SP. But I advised Akhilesh to peddle his cycle with his new ‘yaar’ (Rahul) on Khetasarai to Kuthan and I assured that he would himself vote for lotus.”
Modi also attacked the SP regime for falsely claiming on 24 hour power supply and asked the people about their opinion.
He later trained his guns at the dismal law and order situation saying that the women folk were wary of going out of their homes.
Modi also flayed the CM for protecting rape accused Gayatri Prajapati and campaigning for the tainted minister.
To wooing the gathering, Modi termed Jaunpur as a a ‘land of brave martyrs’ and expressed his elation to see such a huge crowds in the meeting.