Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
HVK Archives: Vajpayee's pilgrimage turns out to be an event

Vajpayee's pilgrimage turns out to be an event - The Observer (New Delhi)

K V Lakshmana ()
April 28, 1998

Title: Vajpayee's pilgrimage turns out to be an event
Author: K V Lakshmana
Publication: The Observer (New Delhi)
Date: April 28, 1998

The BJP and the Akali Dal flags swayed in unison symbolising the
alliance and the Hindu-Sikh amity which it promoted to emerge
successful in general elections and welcome Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee on his first pilgrimage to the Golden Temple on
Monday, after assuming office last month.

Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had been camping in Amritsar
city for the past three days to supervise arrangements for
Vajpayee's first visit as Prime Minister to the city. The entire
city was decked up in all splendor and all that one could see
>from Raja Sansi airport to Golden Temple Were scores of welcome
arches, put up by Punjab Government, BJP, Akali Dal and several
trading and business associations.

School children lined up the streets to greet the Prime Minister
as he drove down from the airport to the Golden Temple, which he
had visited earlier in May 1996 as Prime Minister.

For Vajpayee himself, this visit was purely a pilgrimage, to pay
obeisance to Darbara Sahib and to pray at Durgiana temple and pay
homage to Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Chief Minister Badal, who
had invited the Prime Minister to Amritsar after he became the
Prime Minister, understood the feelings of Vajpayee and left out
politics altogether from the talking points. However, there was
no escape from politics for Vajpayee, as all the scribes covering
the event were only interested In the pulls and pressures being
exerted by Jayalalitha, the statement warefare among BJP's allies
and dismissal of Governments.

Now, in a 24-hour job, Vajpayee patiently replied to the queries
>from press persons at the Raja Sansi airport, shortly before his
departure. He himself described his visit as a pilgrimage.
"Darbar Sahib mein matha thek kar anand mila aur Jallianwala ke
shahidon se prerna milti hai" (I was happy to pay obeisance to
Darbar Sahib and Jallianwala Bagh martyrs always a source of
inspiration). Vajpayee expressed his happiness over his visit and
thanked the people of Punjab, Government of Punjab and residents
of Amritsar city for the warm and tumultous welcome.

"After becoming the Prime Minister I wanted to come to Golden
Temple. In fact I had wanted to come on Baishakhi, but could not.
Meanwhile, my visit to Assam was planned. And I have come today
and am very happy about it," Vajpayee said. Inside Golden Temple,
hundreds of devotees waited for that extra hour to have a glimpse
at Vajpayee, the man who with God's blessings, they hope will
solve their problems. Now that terrorism seems like a thing of
past, the common people are once again complaining of basic
things in life, of better facilities, jobs and development.

Vajpayee arrived at Golden Temple accompanied by Chief Minister
Badal, Union Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism Minister Madanlal
Khurana, Delhi State Minister for Industries Harcharan Singh
Balli and a host of senior BJP and Akali Dal leaders. Chief
priests of Golden Temple Giani Mohan Singh presented a 'saropa'
to Vajpayee and other VIPs. Also part of the encourage of the
Prime Minister was film actor-turned politician and Gurdaspur BJP
MP Vinod Khanna, who joined the convey in Amritsar City. Khanna
too was at the airport to receive the Prime Minister.

Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) rolled out blue
carpets to welcome the Prime Minister. After spending about half-
an-hour in the Golden Temple, he proceeded to Jallianwala Bagh,
to pay homage to the freedom fighters who were massacred by
General Dyer in 1919.


Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements