Author: Kumkum Chadha
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: November 13, 2002
On June 5 1975 Indira Gandhi passed
through Karamsad on her way to Peplad. People rushed to garland her. She
mingled with the crowds. She seemed to have enough time on her hands. Ghanshyam
Patel, then a young man, was watching her. He had left his village early
to catch a glimpse of her. The day is etched in his memory. He has not
been able to accept that Indira Gandhi gave a go-by to the birthplace of
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: "Mur ke bhi nahin dekha, bas chali gayin."
Ghanshyam echoes the sentiment of
the entire village which has not forgiven the Nehru-Gandhi clan for cold-shouldering
Sardar Patel. History, they say, substantiates that Jawaharlal Nehru and
Sardar Patel were adversaries. It is against this backdrop that they hold
the Congress responsible for undermining Sardar Patel and propping up lesser
leaders. Consequently, the Congress latest move to launch its election
campaign from Patels birthplace is being met with cynicism.
Today the locals are mute spectators
to the arrangements being made to welcome the bigwigs from Delhi. Sardar
House is being spruced up because the Congress has decided to pull out
Patel and bring him centerstage for electoral gain. At least this is how
the people of Karamsad interpret the much publicised event where Sonia
Gandhi was to have visited Karamsad but ultimately did not. "Sonia Gandhi
will never come. Neither Nehru nor Indira Gandhi have ever set foot in
Karamsad because they resent Patel. Sonia Gandhi is no different," says
Manubhai, a local.
Conceding Sonias visit would not
make a difference to the Congress electoral fortunes, Manubhai says, "At
best it would have sent a signal that the clan is atoning its sins."
"Sardar Patel was an untouchable
for the Congress. The election has changed everything," the locals say.
The Congress, therefore, has begun
on a wrong note. The Karamsad rebuff will only add to its woes, the foremost
being an unfavourable comparison with BJP and Modi.
In addition to its Hindu support
base, the BJP is believed to have done Sardar Patel proud: "Only the BJP
has done justice to Patels memory. Modi chose Karamsad to begin his yatra."
Meanwhile...
