Huge crowd attends RPI convention

PUNE, Dec 27: The otherwise tranquil race course grounds virtually resembled a mela on Sunday as Bhim Sainiks sporting blue and white cap...

PUNE, Dec 27: The otherwise tranquil race course grounds virtually resembled a mela on Sunday as Bhim Sainiks sporting blue and white caps hailed Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and converged in thousands to participate in the national convention of the Republican Party of India RPI.

Stalls selling blue-coloured ribbons, posters and works of Ambedkar, tea, pav-wada and other refreshments choked the roads leading to the race course grounds. The rally, which was scheduled to start at 10 a.m., took off only at 1 p.m. The women8217;s rally addressed by RPI Mahila Aghadi president Jyoti Langewar was cut short to half-an-hour.

The restless crowd moved around over the 50 acres of the race course grounds which saw a political rally after two decades. While it may not have mattered much to the people who had assembled from various parts of the State and the country, the speakers did not hesitate to stress how fortunate they were to occupy the historic race course ground.

Lax security posed a problem for the organisers as enthusiastic supporters crossed over the barricades to get closer to their RPI leader Ramdas Athawale. Media persons too were caught unawares when they were led to a special pandal erected right next to the main one and provided with Bisleri water and snacks. However chaos persisted with volunteers making a beeline for these pandals and climbing onto the stage to be seated next to their leader. Speakers often had to ask them to climb down and maintain order.

The speeches which saw a mix of Hindi, Marathi, English and even Kannada by newly elected presidents of State units had several interruptions when a group in the audience danced the bhangra and supporters pleaded to recite a poem or two eulogising Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

RPI president Ramdas Athawale, who claimed that it was a four lakh strong crowd came to the special pandal erected for journalists mid-way during the rally to answer specific questions and later disappointed the patiently waiting audience by speaking only for three minutes as copies of his presidential speech had been given to media persons! Athawale concluded the rally with shayari even as several got ready to light up their stove for the evening meal at the sprawling grounds.