SAMIR K. PURKAYASTHA AND SANTANU GHOSH
Aizawl/Silchar, Nov. 21: Like father, like son. Twenty-two years ago, Rahul Gandhi had accompanied his father to Mizoram as a shy teenager who got his first glimpse of the Northeast. Today, Rahul stepped into his father’s shoes in a virtual replication of that memorable visit in 1986.
Like former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi — who had landed in Mizoram in jeans and T-shirt — Rahul too discarded his trademark white kurta-pyjamas for a bottle green T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
Rahul also sent many of those who had seen the former Prime Minister from close quarters on a walk down memory lane as he shook hands with them outside Vanapa Hall in the Mizoram capital, where he addressed a meeting.
Rahul’s first visit had come soon after the landmark peace accord between the Centre and the Mizo National Front in June 1986. His mother Sonia and sister Priyanka had also come on the tour. Not surprisingly, Rahul remembered the first trip with a tinge of nostalgia: “I was introduced to this part of the country which I had not seen. I was only 16 years old then.”
The festive spirit reached a crescendo as Rahul, with no trace of any travel weariness, started throwing flowers at the audience and repeatedly waved at them.
He admitted that during his maiden visit to Mizoram he was just an adolescent but has always cherished those memories. He spoke for only a few minutes in English which was translated into Mizo.
Though Rahul did not mention it, the most memorable moment of the earlier visit had taken place on the way to the border town of Champai, when Rajiv Gandhi had stopped the Maruti-Gypsy he was driving to pluck a bunch of wildflowers and offered them to Sonia.
That picture of Rajiv twirling that bunch of flowers provided the perfect photo opportunity and The Telegraph was one of the few dailies to print this picture.
It was a rare moment of a man who would be Prime Minister, establishing Rajiv Gandhi as a politician with a difference.
Rahul and his sister Priyanka were starry-eyed visitors then, savouring the natural beauty during the drive along the hilly road.
Rajiv Gandhi at that time was a popular man in the state as he was hailed as the architect of the Mizo peace accord, marking the end of the bloodied days of MNF insurgency which ran for two decades after it was kicked off in 1966.
Both Rajiv and Rahul were wearing the Mizo hand-crafted cap made from chiselled reeds of bamboo, presented as a token of Mizo gratitude.This time too, Rahul was presented a hand-woven Mizo jacket which he wore over his T-shirt. At one point, he was also presented a colourful Mizo shawl.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081122/jsp/frontpage/story_10147254.jsp
- Mizoram voters promised free land, Rs 1 lakh for every farmer if party comes to power
Aizawl, Nov. 21: The Congress today played its all-inclusive growth card with gusto, hoping it would pave the way for its return to power after 10 years in the Opposition.
This was more than underlined by the assurances and commitments made by AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi in the three election rallies he addressed during his whirlwind campaign in Mizoram that is going to the hustings on December 2.
The crux of Rahul’s three speeches remained the all-round development of the hill state by putting stalled development projects, with special focus on kisan brothers and the youths, on the fast track.
The stalled projects include the Greater Aizawl Water Supply and the Tuirial hydel power projects.
The Gandhi scion reiterated that the Congress, if voted to power, would revive the policy of granting free land to each farmer, besides Rs 1 lakh to start productive business.
If elected in Mizoram Assembly elections, the Congress government would do its best to improve the plight of the Mizos in education and health sectors, Rahul said.
He announced that the government would arrange free medical treatment and other health facilities for the Mizos if the Congress was returned to power. It would also help “talented” youths of the state realise their potential, Rahul said.
He reminded the Mizos that the need of the hour was an accelerated pace of development in economic and social sectors like agriculture and horticultural modernisation, industry, infrastructure, health and education.
His presence appeared to have galvanised party workers who hoped the “Rahul magic” would work on the discerning electorate whose wishes are similar to their counterparts elsewhere — peace and all-round development.
Hundreds flocked to the rallies Rahul addressed at Serchhip, Saitual and Aizawl. “He has beautifully articulated our manifesto which is about all-round growth and prosperity for all. We hope his magic works on the voters,” said a party worker while applauding the young Congressman’s speech.
The hope stems from the fact that the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), which romped home in 1999 and 2003, appears to be on an uneasy wicket as the sweep of anti-incumbency wave against the party is slowly taking a firm grip among a large section of the electorate.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081122/jsp/northeast/story_10145770.jsp
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