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The Rediff Special/ Amberish K Diwanji

Sonia takes fight into BJP camp

Sonia Gandhi took the Congress's fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party to the streets, launching a blistering attack against the government for failing to curb the steep increase in the rise of food commodities.

Sonia was addressing her first-ever public rally on Tuesday in New Delhi after the BJP and its allies formed the government less than four months ago. Her speech, laced with pro-poor pronouncements, flayed the BJP for the lack of governance, for the price rise, power cuts, and the ongoing hospital strike in Delhi.

Speaking in Hindi for barely about 10 minutes to an audience estimated at best around 75,000, she said that she was going to ask the government certain questions on behalf of the people. Referring to the cost of popular food items -- onions at Rs 16 per kilo, potatoes Rs 15 per kilo, and tomatoes an unbelievable Rs 40 per kilo -- she asked, "How can the poor people afford such high prices?"

She said the government officials were sitting in its air-conditioned offices and if they looked out of the window, they would see the people suffering. But, she said, the ruling party members are not willing to look out.

Referring to the ongoing hospital strike that began a week ago, she said that corpses have piled up in the hospitals, but the government was not concerned with removing them, nor with the treatment of the poor who still thronged the hospitals.

She said this was a government that did not care for the people.

"There is no electricity, no water and the shops are empty. On the streets, people are scared to move about due to the end of law and order," she said, referring to the plight of Delhi. She added, "If the BJP and its allies cannot look after the capital, how will they look after the country?"

The Congress referred to the BJP electoral slogan, seeking one chance to govern. "What did they want that chance for? To destroy the country," she asked.

She came down heavily on the government's perceived economic failures. "Farmers are committing suicide, poor women are struggling to make ends meet. There is no employment, no industry and the economy is in the doldrums," she said. "What kind of a government is this?"

Poking fun at the BJP's slogan of providing an educated and stable government, she said both were missing.

She declared that only the Congress could provide a stable government, with a programme of social justice. "Only the Congress is a government of the poor," she said, and referring to the recent Budget proposals, added, "The Congress will not tolerate tax cuts for the rich and high prices for the poor."

Making the by now mandatory reference to her mother-in-law and husband, she declared, "From Indiraji and Rajivji I learnt that the Congress's main work is for the poor. I assure you that I will honour that trust."

She concluded in a style reminiscent of Indira Gandhi, shouting "Jai Hind!" thrice. On the podium with her were the Congress leaders in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Sharad Pawar and Dr Manmohan Singh, respectively.

After her speech, Sonia and senior Congress leaders walked to Rashtrapati Bhavan about four kilometres away, to submit a memorandum to the President outlining the failures of the present government. Accompanying her were Rajesh Pilot, Dr Singh, K Karunakaran, and others.

Crowds of Congress workers, who made up most of the audience, also walked alongside and kept up the chant of "Sonia Gandhi zindabad!"

The short march

The Congress pulled out all stops to make Sonia Gandhi's first post-election rally a success, though the crowd of 75,000 was not the biggest seen here. The venue was initially supposed to be near Parliament, but after the police refused to grant permission, it was shifted to Bhagwan Dass Road. Party workers from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh thronged the site.

Clearly, the main draw was Sonia, and the audience was in no mood to hear anyone else speak. Cries of "Sonia Gandhi zindabad" and "Sonia lao, desh bachao" rent the air at regular intervals.

The police security was very tight, with at least 5,000 personnel, drawn from the Delhi police and the Rapid Action Force, spread across the rally site and the city. Initially, the police kept the people behind a barricade some 150 metres away from the podium, but the eager audience broke through and came nearer the stage, seating themselves about 74 metres away.

Sonia arrived after 1300 hours, and it was all over by 1330 hours, bar the shouting. When she began walking to Rashtrapati Bhavan, top commandos in mufti forming a cordon sanitaire around her, and not allowing anyone -- party worker or media person -- anywhere near her.

This led to many a scuffle and frayed tempers, worsened by the heat. Clothes were plastered to the bodies due to excessive perspiration, and cold water, along with Pepsi and Coca-Cola (no swadeshi here!) was in great demand.

In Delhi's awesome heat, Sonia, senior party leaders (many of suspect fitness), charged activists and journalists began the short march to Rashtrapati Bhavan atop Raisina Hill. The party workers kept up the incessant chanting, while the senior leaders walked in silence. It was clear as the heat: Sonia Gandhi was the one (and the only one) who actually mattered. The rest were mere minions, treated as such by the euphoric crowds.

The motley crowd reached the gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan over an hour later, just as clouds formed and a cool and soothing breeze began to blow across Rajpath which links India Gate to the President's residence.

Sonia and a few others went in to present the memorandum. Congress workers waiting outside in the hope that she might say something before departing, but in vain. Sonia seated herself in an air-conditioned car and did not even look outside the window at her fans as the car zipped by at high speed.

Still, many Congress workers were pleased with the rally.

"This means she has identified herself with the people of India," said a Congress activist from Madhya Pradesh. She gave the BJP only a few days more in office.

But who will be the PM if the Congress comes to power?

"Sonia Gandhi, of course," said the worker from MP, without a moment's hesitation.

Didn't she mind a foreigner ruling her?

"She is a true Indian nari," retorted the party worker, "For years after her husband's death, she never left her house, just like an Indian widow. She is more Hindu than even the BJP leaders."

Congress leader Ambika Soni said the rally was just the beginning of the Congress party's activity to bring down the government.

"We will activate all our workers across the country to highlight the government's failures," she said, "The aim was to force a change of government."

Was the phase of co-operation over?

"We are still co-operating with the government on issues," insisted Soni, "but we are also highlighting the government's failures." She said the rally was a great success, claiming that over 300,000 attended. A police officer put the figure at a more realistic 60,000.

Walking back after it was finally over, looking rather tired after a long day, was a police constable from the Delhi police. Would he mind Sonia Gandhi as PM?

"It doesn't matter who rules. But whoever rules should look after the poor, ensure that prices stay down and jobs are available for the people," he said.

The Rediff Specials

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