Walk down the memory lane

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 27

Even as the Prime Minister desisted from making any big announcements, it was virtually a walk down memory lane for Narendra Modi as he recalled his association with Shimla and the people of the state. “When I come to Himachal, I feel I am among my own people. All old memories come alive,” he said at the start of his speech.

It was Modi’s first visit to Shimla after becoming Prime Minister as prior to this he addressed an election rally at Mandi during the Lok Sabha campaign. He recalled how he and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal had campaigned in the state.

“People of Himachal can claim a right over me as I have spent many years here. Sitting here at the Indian Coffee House, I used to get an insight into the political developments of the state through my journo friends,” he reminisced while taking names of half a dozen veteran journalists he interacted with almost two decades back. Modi remained in-charge of the BJP in Himachal for many years and travelled to every nook and corner of the state between 1994 and 2002.

“When I come to Shimla, my old memories get refreshed and today also while driving past the Indian Coffee House, I vividly recalled those days,” he said in his address. He even acknowledged that he never every paid for the coffee he sipped as his journo friends used to foot the bill.

“Apne Bulaya aur ham chale aye,” he said to the cheering crowds, with huge presence of women at the rally venue. “Apka to mere par hak hai kyuon ki maine apka namak khaya hai”, he said while urging people to vote for the BJP in the Assembly polls in Himachal due later this year.