With street-plays and bhangra performances, the area outside Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday wore a festive look as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the stage to address his first rally in Delhi this election season.
Chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, those assembled at the venue said that the PM’s arrival was akin to “Lord Ram visiting”.
Street-plays
Next to a busy bus stand, a group was watching a street play named “ Do us party ko vote, jisme na ho koi khot (Give vote to a party that has no flaws)”. It also referenced what Mr. Modi had done for the nation, including “Made in India” and “scaring off” Pakistan.
A bus driver carrying a BJP flag and wearing a saffron-coloured cap stopped his vehicle to let off passengers, all of whom wore Modi Sarkar T-shirts, at the venue. After deboarding, they all joined the bhangra performance.
Hardly anyone paid any attention to senior citizen Mohd. Sadique Zafar, who said he was disappointed with the current dispensation and complained about his woes arising due to demonetisation.
While the overall mood was festive, traffic woes clouded the excitement for many. “Do you see the traffic on these roads? They [the BJP] call this their rally,” said a commuter.
Zakir Hussain College student Om Prakash Gupta, who was on his way out from an examination, said that he would watch Mr. Modi’s “monologue” online.
“I am not interested in the rally as there is no point struggling in the crowd when one can easily watch it online. Had it been a discussion involving the audience, then definitely I would have preferred to be part of the audience,” he said.
Several children could be seen wearing Modi-masks outside the venue. When their guardians were asked whether they were BJP supporters, the parents said that the masks “caught their attention” and the children “pleaded them to get it”.
Vendors providing packages of water free of cost were lined up outside the venue. “The party has provided water packages to us, so we are supplying them for free,” said the vendors, many of whom were from the Chandni Chowk constituency, where incumbent Dr. Harsh Vardhan is seeking re-election.
