Camera, lights, action…. Sorry, a flop show
Sidharth Mishra
The Pioneer
May 26, 1999
Title: Camera, lights, action…. Sorry, a flop show
Author: Sidharth Mishra
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 26, 1999
The Delhi Police strategy for the All India Congress Committee (AICC)
rally at Talkatora Stadium went awry on Tuesday. It was not the flow
of Congress workers but the lack of them that took the Delhi Police
officials by surprise.
An elaborate meeting was held at the behest of the organising
committee on Monday. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Pradesh
functionaries Subhash Chopra and Sajjan Kumar had given a detailed
plan to the police officials to manage the "sea of humanity" which was
to emerge on the return of Ms Sonia Gandhi as Congress president.
The Congress president herself would must have realised that no such
thing happened. When she left the venue around 2.15 pm, there were
hardly 1,500 Congress workers present to waive her off. There were
more sedans lining the road near Talkatora roundabout than the
"milling crowd."
The Delhi Police had erected iron barricades overnight on the Park
Street to keep the "waving Congressmen" under cheek. The situation
did not arise, Ms Gandhi motorcade left the venue escorted by the
local police vehicles at high speed amidst occasional raising of
slogans.
When queried about lack of crowd, a DPCC functionary said: "There were
many people present in the morning. They left after Soniaji's arrival
as they were not permitted entry into the stadium. It was difficult
for them to wait in heat and moreover they disappointed on not being
allowed in-side the stadium."
Even the tempo carrying chided mineral water for the workers had many
a scaled tumbler left in its stock. A city Congress workers Ramesh
Sahni has been sponsoring mineral water for the workers ever since the
current crisis started.
According to Delhi Police sources, the crowd at the time of' the
Congress president's arrival was at best between 12,000 to 15,000.
'It receded as soon as she entered the venue," officials added.
The Delhi Police had planned to block traffic from early morning oh
Mandir Marg, Park Street, Shanker Road, Talkatora Road, Kharag Singh
Marg, and the Willijigdon Cresent to "accommodate" the crowd. However
till 10.30 am only 500 people were present.
It was at this point that "reinforcements" were sent from Outer Delhi
areas and by the Punjab Pradesh Congress leading to a temporary jam on
Park Street. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who arrived on the spot at
the same time, was caught in the melee. When she tried to rebuke the
officials for not closing the traffic she was curtly told that the
crowd was "manageable and there was no need to close the roads."
The Park Street and Shanker Marg were closed after the "jam" whereas
Mandir Marg was kept partially open with the traffic being diverted
towards Gole Market. The Police also resorted to a light cane-charge
on the Congress workers who tried to storm into the venue without
proper passes.
With crowd Finally in place, the Congress president arrived little
after mid-noon.
The scenes similar to those out-side 10, Janpath were recreated with
Congress workers shouting slogans on drum beats. Workers from Amethi
pitched a tent near the Talkatora roundabout and sat on "dharna".
When queried what was the, protest now for, they replied: "In support
of Sonia Gandhi". One wondered if there could be protest in support".
Meanwhile, Congress colour flags, posters and welcome arches lined the
Talkatora Road and Park Street. Vehicles with "Vote Congress"
balloons were also deployed by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee
(DPCC).
A big Sonia Gandhi hoarding had an interesting quote from The Bible:
"Forgive them My Lord, for they know not what they are doing."
Best efforts had been made to project Ms Gandhi as a martyr.
On her arrival at the venue, the Congress president first hoisted the
party flag and then a Guard of Honour by Seva Dal volunteers in a
brusque manner.
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