Agencies
Saifai, February 21
During his 15 minute stay, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stole the show at the tilak ceremony of SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav’s grand nephew Tej Pratap Singh Yadav at Saifai on Saturday.
Even SP leaders were surprised when their workers and supporters cheered and clapped while Modi waved at the crowd. Even the female members of Yadav family — both Mulayam and Lalu took turns to get their pictures clicked with Modi.
“The writing on the wall is clear, this man (Modi) has a craze among people. Those present in the crowd are our supporters and office bearers still everyone left their seat and started cheering when Modi arrived. We should now wake up as it is too late,” a SP legislator stated after the event.saifai
Modi arrived escorted by Mulayam and CM Akhilesh Yadav on the stage at 10:50 am. Before him Lalu Yadav, his family members and Mulayam’s family were already seated on stage while the tilak ceremony was going on.
The crowd which was seated in the Saifai Mahotsav pandal got excited as Modi dressed in yellow half sleeves jacket reached the stage. Almost all of them stood up on their seats and started clapping. Many jumped the barricades and took every vantage position on the pillars of the pandal to get a better view.
Hundreds of hands holding mobile phones could be seen clicking pictures of Modi. Some of them even reached the media section requesting the reporters seated to capture Modi in their mobiles.
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Walking slowly, Modi too sensed the mood and waved to the crowd which responded well. Mulayam offered a shawl to Modi. Modi too responded by shaking hands firmly with Mulayam and Lalu. “He overshadowed our leader and the event. People only want to see him, the workers did not raise pro-Modi slogans which was the only thing left at the event,” a senior SP leader told The Indian Express.
Both Mulayam and Lalu escorted Modi to his seat where he sat with UP governor Ram Naik, Lalu and Mulayam. Such was the frenzy of Modi that the mike for the pandit performing the rituals of Tilak was removed and shehnai was played.
While the tilak ceremony continued, it was the turn of females and children of Mulayam’s and Lalu’s family to meet Modi. Lalu’s daughters, Akhilesh’s family members got their pictures clicked with Modi.
Ramgopal Yadav, who is Mulayam’s cousin too had his picture clicked with Modi. Later on, taking to reporters, Ramgopal said, “Who does not want his pictures to be clicked with PM?”
Post photo session, Modi stood up and blessed the couple, Tej Pratap and Raj Lakshmi, and started to leave. However, Shivpal Yadav who was standing so far at the extreme corner requested him to reach the main stage as the crowd was getting restless. Modi obliged and waved at the crowd one more time.
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No sooner Modi left at 11:05 am, the crowd too started to disperse, mostly to the food section.
CM Akhilesh accompanied Modi till the air strip after his brief stay at Power Corporation’s guest house.
Former SP leader Amar Singh arrived at the venue and there was no one to receive him. Amar Singh was not even escorted to the stage, but Shivpal accompanied him in his official vehicle.
SP leaders complained about very brief appearance of their Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan who left the stage within few minutes. “She has been made MP from our party and does not have time for the function. Netaji should think again for promoting her,” a leader stated.
Amitabh Bachchan who arrived after Modi, drew some crowd when he reached on the stage but left within 10 minutes with Mulayam after extending his congratulations. SP leaders claimed that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was the next to arrive for the event. JD(U) president Sharad Yadav too was also present in the pandal.
Till 12:30 pm, most of the VIPs had left while wait was on for few others. Surprisingly, BJP’s MP Sakshi Maharaj was present and sat in the VVIP gallery. Till afternoon several of them were conspicuous by their absence as none of the BSP leaders were spotted in the pandal. Till 1 am even SP ministers Azam Khan and Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya did not reach the main pandal.
For the SP supporters who had gathered in large numbers, the show proved to be a nightmare due to heavy traffic jam. The whole of Chandagi Ram stadium was filled with vehicles and it took hours for them to even move a few meters ahead. In the food section too people faced a hard time eating due to the heavy rush. Senior government officials including DG Police A K Jain and others too were on their toes due to the VIP movement.
