From Saurav Borah
ALOTGRE (TURA): The common aspiration among the thousands that came to the Alotgre cricket stadium here, the venue of the Prime Minister’s poll rally here, from the nook and cranny of Garo Hills on Friday afternoon was to see PM Narendra Modi in person and listen to what he had to say.
Apparently, the common aspiration could be interpreted as an aspiration to be with a person and have a first-hand feel of his persona. A charismatic figure who they apparently relate to, hear so much on radio, see on television but rarely get to see in person.
Thousands, young and old, cutting across tribal and non-tribal communities such as Garo, Hajong, Bengali, Koch, Dalu, Nepali, had to wake up early and tuck in a quick light meal to come from faraway constituencies such as Mahendraganj and Dalu, among other distant constituencies, and reach the venue on time.
Some were lucky to get vehicle rides up to a place near the venue while others had to walk their way from the Chandmary area uphill on the narrow curvy road, and finally to the Alotgre cricket ground.
Many who came by foot were seen rushing to the venue minutes before and even after the PM’s scheduled arrival time.
Rubina Hajong, a homemaker, started early from as far as Kaleshwar in Mahendraganj constituency along the India-Bangladesh border to reach the venue by 1pm, close to three hours before the PM’s speech.
“I have come with my elder sister, Sarojini, all the way from a distant village only to see and hear the Prime Minister in person. We hardly had food in the morning but were excited to see the PM. So, we are not feeling hungry. My husband, who is a daily wage earner, stayed back, otherwise he would have missed his daily wage,” Rubina told this correspondent.
At a tin-roofed spacious parking area on the stadium premises was a shy Ishalina Ch Marak taking a break after walking from Matchakolgre here.
“I came here in the morning with my mother in-law and sister in-law only for the PM who has promised a new Meghalaya,” she said in Garo, translated by a local youth.
Likewise, octogenarian Arpana Dutta, who generally stays indoors, braved her way to the venue as well.
“We had to prepare an early lunch so that we could reach this venue (about four kilometres uphill from Chandmary) on time. My ailing mother, who had come to Tura for medical treatment all the way from Dalu two months back, was eagerly waiting for this programme,” said Tultuli Debnath, a homemaker from the Lower Babupara area, as she assisted her mother to one of the security check gates.
Senior citizens like Tapan Sangma from Chitoktak and Manik R Marak from Rongram had a spring in their steps as they rushed to the gates to enter the main arena and grab their seats from vantage positions.
“I have been a regular listener of the PM’s Mann Ki Baat programme on radio. So I can relate to him very much. As it is, we have seen the development work carried out in other parts of the country led by him,” said Marak.
And at 3.43pm when the chief guest took the stage in Garo headgear, there was a deafening roar with applause.
Youngsters among the crowd (estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000) were seen taking “groupfies” as well to capture a frame with the PM speaking. Many who were at a distance were seen near the makeshift big screens taking videos of the event.
As anticipated by them, the PM, while taking an oblique dig at the powers that be in Meghalaya, struck an instant chord when he said he did not need a sports complex (which was originally planned as the venue for the public meeting)) but could connect with the people of Tura as they have come in large numbers and given him an all-important place in their hearts.
Modi also referred to inclusive growth in states led by the BJP in the Northeast while also reminding the people about the schemes sanctioned for Meghalaya and its people.
“The BJP has considered Northeast the growth engine for the country’s development. Besides, BJP has looked beyond religion to give people DBT (direct benefit transfer) schemes and even created a tribal ministry during the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led government at the centre for the development of indigenous communities in Meghalaya,” the Prime Minister said.
He further said that for development, it is important for Meghalaya to be governed by BJP so that the benefits of schemes percolate to the economically disadvantaged sections and there is inclusive growth, much like in BJP-led Assam, Tripura and Manipur.
The PM also listed out the development work carried out by the central government over the past nine years even as he accused the previous government (led by Congress in Meghalaya) for “looting public money” sanctioned by the Centre and “treating people in Northeast like ATMs”.
After the interactive 28-minute speech of the Prime Minister, septuagenarian Rammohan Medak, who came all the way from Garobadha, was all smiles despite suffering a mild injury while jostling for space through the mob while making his way out of the ground.
“I am lucky to have heard his inspiring speech and the promises made for poor people like me,” Medak, who runs a small shop, said, as he finally made his way to the tempo that was waiting to take him and many others to Garobadha.