Sangma-Bommai rift spoiled midnight show

Agitated over the insult, they had at one stage even refused to clear the aisle from where the President was to walk down to the podium. Sangma, who had been under tremendous pressure from the members, discovered that the ministry had invited officials, their families and others, and he revised his earlier order. Passes were then issued to the members’ spouses.

Eyewitnesses say security regulations were flouted as many members brought in unaccounted guests. Some members had as many as six guests in tow.

Lack of planning and thought was acutely evident in the way former President Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma and his wife, both of whom have problems with their walking, had to fight their way through the crowd at the main gate. But Sonia Gandhi, along with her private secretary and daughter, was allowed entry through a separate gate and came in through the route the President took later. Protocol had not been followed in several instances.

Those who recall that historic day in 1947 say that no one other than the members of the Constituent Assembly was present when Nehru delivered his `Tryst With Destiny’ speech. Enthusiastic visitors and guests stood outside Parliament House to hear the proceedings. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister had to personally intervene to get Bommai to agree to the replay of a speech by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose when many members, who had a sympathiser in Sangma, made an issue of it.

The earlier plan was to have only Gandhiji and Nehru heard. But Netaji’s centenary is being celebrated this year and his words drew a thunderous applause. Also, the audio quality of Gandhiji’s recorded voice was not very good.

So much about the speeches, against the backdrop of the controversy about a multinational using Lata Mangeshkar’s rendition in Parliament to publicise its product, the country’s nightingale did not seem to be her usual self.Though her rendition of Sare Jehan Se Achcha could not be faulted, it absolutely lacked the element that moved Pandit Nehru to tears in Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon.