The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : All for a glimpse of Rahul

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Thursday, Mar 26, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

All for a glimpse of Rahul

S. Ganesan

S. Ramasamy, a freedom fighter from Mayiladuturai, waited over three hours.

— Photo: M. Srinath

S.Ramasamy

KARAIKAL: Clad in khadi and sporting a Gandhi cap, S. Ramasamy, a freedom fighter from Mayiladuturai, waited over three hours to catch a glimpse of the VIP visitor to Karaikal on Wednesday.

His love for the Nehru family and unshakeable faith in the Congress party had brought the veteran all the way from his village to Karaikal to take a look at Rahul Gandhi. Though Mr. Gandhi was on a low-key visit for a closed-door interaction with Youth Congress members, Mr. Ramasamy did not seem to mind waiting outside the marriage hall, the meeting venue, along with a motley crowd of party men and curious onlookers.

His wish

“I want to see Rahul as the Prime Minister of the country. Only under a representative from the Nehru family can the country prosper,” he asserted.

Mr. Ramasamy had watched Nehru family from close quarters during freedom struggle. “I have accompanied former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on election tour. I also came in close contact with her son Rajiv Gandhi when he visited Mayiladuturai for electioneering. He even borrowed my cap on that occasion,” Mr. Ramasamy recalled.

On Wednesday he was hoping to almost relive such an experience. And almost had his wish realised: Mr. Rahul Gandhi broke the security cordon to get down from his car and shake hands with some in the crowd. Mr. Ramasamy, though just a few yards away, could not break free of the police ring. He waited till the meeting was over, hoping for another chance. But, this time around, Mr. Gandhi’s security personnel thwarted his attempt to hop off the car.

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