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Journalism of Courage
Stepping out of a special plane with Chief Minister Raman Singh, former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee looked almost defiant today, as if wishing away RSS chief K. Sudarshan’s advice for retirement.
Vajpayee, who had taken care to avoid mediapersons at the airport, was all set to walk to his bullet-proof vehicle, but the crowd cheering for him outside made him change his mind. So moved was Vajpayee by the welcome, that he walked a few steps towards the crowd.
Soon, Chief Minister Raman Singh had to step in and escort Vajpayee to his car, as the people broke the security cordon to reach out to the former prime minister. ‘‘Atalji ayeen hain, nayee kiran layen hain (Atalji has brought a new ray of hope with him), was not the only slogan reverberating at the airport. The BJP supporters had come up with some new ones — like ‘‘Vajpayeeji to atal hain, atal hain’’— apparently in answer to Sudarshan’s advice.
Leading an enthusiastic crowd was district BJP president Chhagan Mungra, who broke the security cordon to greet Vajpayee, ‘‘Vajpayeeji tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hai (Vajpayeeji we are with you in your struggle)
State Home Minister Brij Mohan Aggarwal, who had also come to receive Vajpayee, said: ‘‘Vajpayee enjoys a special place in the hearts of two crore people of Chhattisgarh. He is an architect of Chhattisgarh. The BJP workers want him and Advaniji to lead the party to power once again.’’
On his two-day visit to the state, Vajpayee will inaugurate the Kushabhau Thakare University of Journalism and Mass Communication, besides addressing a conference of village chiefs.
Meanwhile, Advani finds peace in poetry
NEW DELHI
: Even as the controversy generated by the remarks of RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan about his retirement continues, BJP president L.K. Advani on Friday spent nearly two hours in the company of poets. At a kavi sammelan in memory of late MP
Tarachand Khandelwal, the poets also had a piece of advice for the former deputy PM. ‘‘Kisi ki narazgi se zindagi khatam nahi hoti, (life doesn’t end because of someone’s anger), said noted poet Gopaldas Neeraj, apparently referring to Sudharshan’s statement. — PTI
