BJP National President Rajnath Singh, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with BJYM Leader during the concluding programme of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha's 'Yuva Jodo Abhiyan', at Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal [with Trishuls and gada's].
-PTI Photo
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BJP Yuva Morcha chants Hindutva at MP rally
by Milind Ghatwai
(Indian Express, July 15, 2008)
BHOPAL, JULY 14: If the BJP Yuva Morcha has its way, it could soon drive Bajrang Dal out of business in Madhya Pradesh, which goes to poll later this year.
Morcha leaders on Monday served a heavy dose of Hindutva at a huge rally attended by party president Rajnath Singh, giving provocative slogans and gifting senior leaders with large tridents and maces.
The function marked the culmination of a yatra taken out by the state Yuva Morcha that covered nearly 8,500 km, covering about 180 constituencies.
Though the yatra began on June 9 from the birthplace of Chandrashekhar Azad in Bhabhra in Alirajpur, it took a long break on Bhopal’s outskirts so that Singh could attend the grand finale at Lal Parade ground on Monday.
The huge pandal had a backdrop of the Amarnath Shrine and on either side were two ice replicas of the lingam, where the leaders offered flowers, an indication that the youth wing of the BJP would exploit the issue in the elections.
From Sohrabuddin to Afzal, the leaders harped on the pet Hindutva themes and also promised a Ram temple at Ayodhya. “There is a Shiv (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) in MP, Krishna (Lal Krishna Advani) will be elected to lead a government in Delhi and together they will build a Ram temple,” one of them said.
“Jai Jai Shri Ram” and “Har Har Mahadev” were the favoured slogans.
Morcha state president Vishwas Sarang even urged the large gathering to raise their arms, saying those who do so “would be called Hindustanis and those who disobey would be treated Pakistanis”.
Rajnath Singh was almost cold shouldered by the young crowd when he tried to speak on issues like the nuclear deal, youth power and how they should take to politics to become agents of age.
He, however, got a good response when he announced that the BJP would restore the land given to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
In the past, the morcha had organised several programmes to protest the delay in hanging of Parliament attack accused Afzal. The protest had led to flaring up of tempers at Congress offices, with workers waiting for Morcha activists.
Meanwhile, the Congress was not impressed with the turnout at the Monday’s function. Party’s election campaign chairman Ajay Singh alleged that government machinery was misused to bring more people to the venue. Bus operators were browbeaten and money was collected from government officials to arrange for vehicles, Singh further alleged.
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