Sonia trumps in the numbers game

Hours before Sonia’s meeting on Saturday, all roads leading to the sprawling ground were jammed in a radius of over a kilometre. While intelligence reports put the gathering at an unbelievable three lakh and MPCC chief Ranjit Deshmukh at an impossible 4.5 lakh,independent observers who have watched Indira’s rallies here, put the figure at over a lakh and a half.

With a huge cut-out of Sonia looming over them, the people waited under the sun for close to three hours to see the widow of Rajiv. "So what if she has an accent. She speaks from the heart. People with chaste language have fooled us for so long," said a lady Congress worker as she strained over shoulders to catch a glimpse of Sonia and her son. One common complaint was the absence of Priyanka. Nobody appeared to miss "Congress ka neta kaisa ho…Sitaram Kesri jaisa ho".

Sonia reeled out the same speech that had been penned for her earlier meets at Bhopal and Tumsar. Then of course, the regular numbers – without naming the BJP, she cautioned the people against communal forces out to gain power by any means. "Divided we will never progress. Remember that. Only the Congress can unite this country and fulfill its dreams," she said.

She pointed out how Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ramrajya andSwadeshi had been hijacked and twisted out of context for political gains. These communal forces are flaunting programmes which are either borrowed (from her mother-in-law or her husband) or are totally impractical. "What have they to show? What new trick will they come up with to give you education, health and alleviate poverty? Do you want peace and progress or hatred and violence?" she asked the people.

"This election, however, sensing the voter mood, these forces have hidden their rabidly fundamental face behind a veil of tolerance." Again, without naming the BJP or Vajpayee in this context, she said, "You must be cautious. See through this dangerous game."

Sonia also spoke about the "narrow outlook" of small, regional parties which have mushroomed across the country. They will do irreparable harm, she felt.

She reminisced about the long and close relationship which the Congress in general and her family in particular have with Nagpur and Vidarbha. "This land of Sewagram and Paonar is sacredfor us. Indiraji always drew strength from here and it was a constant source of inspiration for my husband," she said amidst thunderous applause.

Equally enthusiastic was the crowd’s response when she referred to the "sacred Deekshabhoomi" at Nagpur where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism with lakhs of his followers. It reflected the success, in some measure, of the Congress’ electoral alliance with the RPI in Maharashtra.