In a repeat of last year’s performance, journalists on Saturday turned this year’s Diwali Milan at the BJP headquarters into a melee too as they tripped over one another and jostled for a ‘selfie with the Prime Minister.’ The mad scramble for a photo-op with the PM began when Narendra Modi got down from the dais and began mingling with the crowd. Even though the PM willingly obliged the gathering of hundreds of scribes by taking selfies with them, he did not take any questions.
The rush to get selfies with the PM soon turned the organised do into a free-for-all — a throwback to last year’s function when Modi was mobbed by over-enthusiastic scribes.
The security personnel forming the inner ring of the PM’s security had a tough time restraining the selfie enthusiasts and camerapersons who had also made it a tad difficult for the journos seated in chairs to steal a glance at the proceedings. Prior to the selfie act, the PM said ‘Diwali’ imparted a message of non-discrimination and equality and referred to the uniqueness of all festivals in the country.
Hailing Indian festivals as occasions which give a new inspiration to society, he said, “The festival of lights (Deep Parva) is also a part of it. There is no discrimination in it. It also strengthens the value of equality.”
Modi, who is to fly off to Paris to attend the inaugural of the two-week climate summit (conference of parties - COP21) on Monday, made his exit from the venue soon after his ‘speedy’ media interaction in the party office.
Party president Amit Shah welcomed Modi on the stage where top leaders Arun Jailtey, Nitin Gadkari, M Venkaiah Naidu, were also greeted with a bouquet by party office-bearers including former editor and party spokesperson MJ Akbar.
Speaking briefly about the mass connect of festivals including the Kumbh fair, Modi said, “In our society, festivals in themselves are a big strength, which give the society a new momentum, energy and enthusiasm. A number of stories can be generated if its social and economic aspects are analysed. For instance, the gathering on the banks of the Ganga during the Kumb Mela is so huge as if there is some small country there,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that this year’s Diwali Milan got delayed due to his busy schedule. “Had it not been done now, one may have had to wait till Christmas.”
Once done with his brief address, Modi stepped down from the podium to the first row marked for ‘Owners and Editors’ and chit-chatted evoking a good laugh from his audience. But as soon as he moved further, it was ‘selfie mayhem’ and of course, did not present a savouring picture.
“look at the discipline of your tribe,” said a BJP functionary laughingly as he made way for the Prime Minister. Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, was more acerbic as he tweeted: “This is the media we expect will ask tough questions of this GovernmentIJ Great visuals of an undignified selfie circus!!!”
Earlier, in his welcome address, BJP chief Amit Shah wished a great year for the country’s democratic traditions. Referring to the two-day long debate in Parliament to commemorate the Constitution Day and the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Shah said that Parliament has unanimously placed the supremacy of the Constitution above all.