His magic overwhelms all; BJP workers elated

Sandeep Rawat

Tribune News Service

Rishikesh, September 11

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to Uttarakhand today saw unprecedented enthusiasm and craze among BJP workers as well as common people in Rishikesh.

Jam-packed venue

More than 15,000 persons turned up to listen to Modi’s speech at the IDPL hockey stadium in Rishikesh. Party activists and public began to arrive at the rally venue at noon itself to acquire front-row seats to have a better glimpse of Modi. Even Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank mentioned in his speech that a section of women in the audience had arrived nearly three hours before the Prime Minister arrived.

Few leaders allowed on dais

Owing to strict orders of the Special Protection Group (SPG) a limited number of leaders were allowed on the dais. Pauri Garhwal MP Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Tehri Garhwal MP Maharani Rajya Laxmi Shah, national party in charge Shyam Jaju, Uttarakhand BJP president Teerath Singh Rawat, and rally chief organiser Vijay Bansal were sitted on the stage. The rest of the legislators and party office-bearers were sitting in a row adjacent to the main stage.

Modi-Khanduri chat fuels speculation

Khanduri sat next to the Prime Minister and had a conversation with him. Modi responded to Khanduri and both had a chat for some time before Teerath Singh Rawat began addressing the gathering from the stage. Many people in the rally were heard saying the Prime Minister should make Khanduri either a Cabinet minister or the chief ministerial candidate in the 2017 Assembly elections. Otherwise, the BJP will find it hard to beat Chief Minister Harish Rawat and the Congress in the state.

Sloganeering throughout rally

Since three helicopters in the Prime Minister’s entourage were visible in the sky, the crowd present at the venue could not resist sloganeering ‘Modi-Modi’ till he left the IDPL ground for the Sheeshamjhadi ashram. When Modi called himself a Chaiwala, the gathering got berserk, and starting clapping and hooting frantically. The ‘Modi-Modi’ chant again reverberated at the venue. Modi while concluding his speech thanked the people for the overwhelming response to the rally that was finalised in just 24 hours earlier.

24-minute speech on national issues

Modi arrived at the IDPL hockey stadium venue at 3:30 pm and began his address at 3:40 pm. The 24-minute speech focused mainly on the NDA government’s major schemes and achievements.

He called Uttarakhand ‘Devbhoomi’ and again mentioned the state while referring to the Army background of the majority of residents of the state. He also referred to Uttarakhand as the last of the four states he visited today.

Rain after Modi leaves

A sudden burst of rain lashed the area within five minutes of Modi finishing his speech and leaving the rally venue. This made the spectators run for cover even as police and security personnel were seen taking shelter under trees that are in a large number at the IDBPL stadium.

No word on Ganga Namami Gange

Haridwar MP Nishank offered Ganga jal in a mettalic can to the Prime Minister. Modi did not say anything about the Ganga issue or the Namami Gange scheme, leaving pro-Ganga activists dejected. Nishank also gave Modi a self-written book, which the Prime Minister directed the SPG personnel to keep it in his car.