Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Festive fare in Bharuch
There were fewer political flags, banners and posters together on Bharuch city roads and lanes than kites flying in the skyline. 8220;Excellent weather and wind for kiteflying; the festival days are here again and it8217;s a holiday8221;, said Yunus Khan in Mota Bazar. He was right. A group of tribals were involved in 8220;Chhadi8221; dancing a tribal festival to conclude the three-day Janmashtami festival on Sunday near the bazar pond to immerse the Krishna idols. 8220;Wasting time or energy for polls is stupid8221;, a friend of his said.
Boycott bid
As in some other constituencies in the State, voters of at least two villages of Bharuch had decided to boycott the polls. It took a great deal of labour for Somabhai Patel, BJP sarpanch of Silodara village in Waghra taluka and Bharat Parmar, a senior BJP leader in State at Wadhwa in Jhagadia taluka, to pacify the agitating villagers and coax them into voting.
Off the list
Journalist and Congress supporter Saeed Doctor and BJP district media in-charge Tarun Banker found their names off the voters8217; list. They say they were among many whose names had 8220;disappeared8221; for unknown reasons.
Mum8217;s the word
Curiosity is the hallmark of a majority of journalists. But at times it results in saner elements being pushed aside. With the low voter turnout making Election 99 in Chhotaudepur a dull affair, some scribes who were touring the constituency on Sunday seemed very interested in knowing which way the wind was blowing. At various polling booths voters were asked a direct question: 8220;Whom did you vote for?8221;, not realising the discomfort it was causing people. At Punyavant village a 74-year old-man was gheraoed by several enthusiastic people and asked who he had voted for. The man kept on avoiding the question much to the chagrin of the scribe. One even assured8217; the old man that he would not disclose it to anyone. Irritated, the old man finally replied angrily, 8220;I voted for all the candidates,8221; as he walked past the scribes.
