People's Democracy

THE election rally of the Lok Morcha in Moradabad town of Uttar Pradesh was scheduled to begin at 12 p m on February 11. The rally was significant in the sense that it was for the first time the Lok Morcha chairman and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Jyoti Basu, was directly participating in the election campaign of Uttar Pradesh. Along with him, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, and former prime minister V P Singh, were to attend this meeting, in Moradabad, which is going to the polls on February 14.

The entire northern region suddenly experienced severe rainfall right from February 11. The incessant rain followed us from Delhi to Moradabad which is a four-hour drive. As we reached the venue of the meeting - the Inter-college ground in the heart of the town - the ground was soaked in rain with a few people scattered around taking shelter under the trees and the college building. They seemed to be outnumbered by the heavy contingents of the police.

At 12 45 pm there was yet no sign that the meeting would take place. Then followed the announcements that finally the helicopter carrying the leaders had been cleared for arriving in the town despite the bad weather. In a matter of half an hour the ground filled up. Young, old, even women wearing burqas, streamed into the venue, braving not just the drizzle but the chilly winds lashing them. As the cavalcade carrying the leaders trooped into the ground, there was a mad rush to catch a glimpse of them. Mulayam, Jyoti Basu and Surjeet briskly stepped onto the dais to the cheers of the crowd which now completely packed the ground.

It was unbelievable. All the journalists gathered there for covering the event, half an hour back, had been dead sure that the rally would be called off in this inclement weather. Even the local leaders of Samajwadi Party were almost resigned to the possibility of the rally being washed out. Not only were they astounded that it was taking place at all, but more stunned at the huge turn-out, and that too in such a short time.

Clearly it was an indication of the mood of the people, to which the leaders of Lok Morcha referred to in their speeches.

The speakers in the rally stressed that these elections were very crucial not just to Uttar Pradesh, but to the entire nation which is passing through a critical phase under the BJP-led central rule.

Jyoti Basu , speaking in Hindi at the request of Mulayam Singh Yadav, started off saying that such a huge turn-out in such a bad weather clearly indicated that the Samajwadi Party and Lok Morcha are going to win these elections. He said this victory in UP will also be a victory for the entire nation.

Lambasting the BJP for its three-year rule and communal politics, Basu said that the hard fought independence of the country can be saved only if the present central government is removed. Saying that our nation is rooted in the "unity in diversity" principle, Basu denounced the attack of the Sangh forces on this principle by way of raising communal issues.

He made it clear that on the Ram mandir issue, which was again being raised with an eye on these elections, the Supreme Court verdict should be awaited. He was firm that the forcible building of a temple would never be allowed even "if we have to pay with our lives".

Having to leave the rally to attend another election meeting, Mulayam Singh Yadav spoke next and began by expressing his thanks to Jyoti Basu and Surjeet for attending this meeting braving the chilly weather and rain. Recounting the severe lapses in security during the Vajpayee rule, he blasted the government for its "total failure in dealing with the terrorists". He warned that the nation was on the verge of economic slavery due to the Vajpayee government's economic policies. "The nation can be saved from the dangerous situation it finds itself today due to the BJP rule by saving Uttar Pradesh first", he appealed to the people.

Referring to the charge that Madrasas are funded through dubious foreign channels, Mulayam dared the government to probe the funds received by the VHP for its Ram temple campaign.

In his brief speech Surjeet told the gathering that the entire nation was keenly awaiting the verdict in UP. A verdict in favour of the Lok Morcha would send a positive message to the entire nation and would even change the course of national politics. The continuation of the BJP in power is dangerous to the nation, and the ground would be prepared for its ouster with a positive verdict in UP. Surjeet criticised the Congress party for not taking a firm position against communal forces, and lauded Mulayam for fighting the BJP on the field, and getting the peoples' support for this fight. He also chided RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav for campaigning against Lok Morcha saying that he should know better who stood behind him when RJD government in Bihar was sought to be dismissed.

Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh and Loksabha MP Raj Babbar were among those who spoke in the meeting.

The people attending the meeting stayed till the end and heard Jyoti Basu and Surjeet with rapt attention.