SHILLONG/ALOTGRE, Feb 24: The BJP gave a rockstar-like welcome to Modi with several bands welcoming him with songs during a roadshow in Shillong.
After landing in Shillong, the Prime Minister headed straight to the State Central Library and throughout the journey, people on both sides of the road waved at him. He stood on the door of the vehicle for most of the time and waved back to the people.
At the State Central Library, he paid floral tributes to three freedom fighters of the state – U Tirot Sing, U Kiang Nangbah and Pa Togan Sangma.
Throughout the 1 km stretch from IGP point to Police Bazar, rock bands played music amid tight security. During the journey, young boys and girls in traditional dresses were seen presenting traditional dances as the crowd began following the Prime Minister.
At Police Bazar, Modi addressed the crowd and BJP supporters for 13 minutes.
Senior BJP leaders like AL Hek, Sanbor Shullai, M Kharkrang, Ernest Mawrie and others shared the stage with the Prime Minister.
Euphoric scenes in 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 3.43 pm 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.
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.
“To have the PM of our country come to our town and address us, is a dream come true. We will remember this day for a very long time to come,” said a local who was at the stadium.
Earlier, the election festival in Garo Hills reached its zenith after the PM landed at Tura for his maiden visit at about 3:15 pm.
After reaching the landing site at the BSF helipad, the Modi charisma was on full display with the PM waving to the public that stood by both sides of the road to wave and greet the crowd to enthused calls from the public. Modi even got off his vehicle momentarily to walk and greet people along the route to the Alotgre playground, the venue of the BJP rally.
Meanwhile traffic was in a mess due to the sheer numbers that came to see the leader and listen to his speech. People began to pour into the venue at about 9:30 AM in the hope of beating the late rush in getting to the site. They were the lucky ones but had to wait longer hours while those that came later had a torrid time through the narrow road connecting the stadium. None did mind the chaos though as destination mattered more than the struggle to get there.
All 24 candidates of the BJP from Garo Hills were present at the site of the meeting along with union minister for minority affairs, John Barla and Assam’s deputy speaker, Numal Momin.
Upon his entry into the stage, he was greeted by the entire BJP contingent and a huge round of applause from the crowd gathered. He was later felicitated by the two Tura contestants, Bernard Marak, Adamkid Sangma and Selsella’s Ferlin CA Sangma with the Garo traditional headgear and jacket.
