The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : POLL-POURRI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 18, 2004

National

National - Elections 2004

POLL-POURRI

Strange bedfellows

It is strange that far from bashing "Mian Musharraf" — as the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, did during the Gujarat Assembly elections — the Bharatiya Janata Party is playing up the Prime Minister's peace initiative with Pakistan as a feather in its cap. The irony is all the more sharp since the 1999 Lok Sabha election was fought and won on the Kargil war victory plank. Naturally, the Pakistan President was the main hate figure.

Now the BJP has roped in a look-alike of General Pervez Musharraf, complete with full military uniform, for its campaign in one constituency. And the India-Pakistan dialogue has been repeatedly mentioned by all senior party leaders, including the Prime Minister and his Deputy, as a good reason for Muslims to vote for the BJP and "come closer" to the saffron party.

Poignant reply

The former constituency of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and actor-turned-politician, Rajesh Khanna, will witness an unusual contest this time round. Standing from the prestigious New Delhi constituency as an Independent is disabled rights activist, aved Abidi.

"This is probably the first time that a person with disability, representing the disability sector, is contesting the elections. We decided that it was high time someone from the sector stood up for the needs of the disabled. I am fighting an issue-based election and I hope the people will be intelligent enough to `Vote, For A Change," said Mr. Abidi, quoting his election slogan after he filed his nomination.

And it seems that there are plenty who would like to `Vote, For A Change.' A passer-by stopped to asked Mr. Abidi: "What is happening here? Why are all these people gathered here? Is this a function for disabled people?" On learning that a differently-abled person would be standing for elections he replied with emotion, "I am so happy. God bless you. Only when one goes through the pain does one realise what the problems are," he said, revealing an artificial leg.

Drawing a parallel

The Congress in Rajasthan has drawn parallels between the stampede in Lucknow during the distribution of saris, leading to the death of 22 women, and the bedlam outside the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur recently, when thousands had gathered to receive clothes and utensils distributed by the popular saint, Asa Ram Bapu, who was invited to the "Gharib Sunwai Kendra" of the Governor, Madanlal Khurana.

Without naming Mr. Khurana, the State Congress said that police had resorted to a lathicharge to control the crowd last month during the "Bharatiya Janata Party-sponsored" event. "There would have been a major disaster had the Congress not opposed the programme," Narain Singh, the PCC president, and B.D. Kalla, Leader of Opposition, said in a joint statement.

- Neena Vyas, Anjali Dhal Samanta, Mohammed Iqbal

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