When Narendra Modi addresses the approximately Rs 10 crore mega rally in Rohini on Sunday, missing will be senior leaders like L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. However, party organisers refused to attach any significance.
Advani is in Delhi; Swaraj would be returning from Hyderabad, Rajnath from Rewa and Jaitley in Guwahati on Sunday.
At Japanese Park a 100 ft cutout of Modi—perhaps the biggest ever in India—benignly looks down on wordhippers. Three stages greet the man of the moment. The main stage is gigantic at 80 x 40 feet. It is at two-levels eight feet high and the central podium is 10-foot tall. Two other stages stand adjacent.
Behind the main stage are two giant screens which reflect the leader’s expressions and gestures in detail. Twenty LED screens within the grounds will duplicate the same. “These 20 screens will ensure that those attending the rally get a close view of the leaders on the stage,” said Goel; 200 more LED screens have been installed across the city to carry the Modi mantra.
The BJP is determined not to go the Bhopal way. There, the speeches of leaders lost clarity because of a poor sound system. Goel assured this time their words would be heard perfectly as state of the art “Line Array” sound systems are being used. These would ensure that every word is delivered in perfectly audible form to the audience.
The publicity and hi-tech part of the rally has been aptly named Operation Blitzkreig. To cover and telecast the rally across various social media platforms like YouTube, and the party run YuvaTV, seven cameras will capture different angles. “This multi-camera feed will be available for live streaming to all broadcasters who want to use this feed. This will be done through the latest “Watch-Out” technology that provides high definition video-streaming,” said Goel. Since Modi’s speeches are covered live in the media, the organisers have also created dedicated studio space at the venue for channels to broadcast programmes. Earlier, the party ran radio jingles on FM channels to invite people to the venue.
As a prelude to honouring the BJP’s new god, cadres organised Prabhat Pheris (early morning tours, normally held at times of religious festvals) in all 280 mandals during the first three weeks of September; 250 hoardings that introduce Modi as ‘Bharat Maa ka Sher’ who is set to roar in Delhi look down from lofty heights. Goel accused the Delhi government of trying to disrupt the rally by ordering the PWD to remove banners, hoardings and billboards. “Even the police have been involved in it and some of our, activists were arrested for putting up posters.”
Modi’s marketing genius is visible everywhere: like a Bollywood launch, Modi stickers, pamphlets, T-shirts and baseball caps are being distributed as merchandise. An extensive online campaign for the rally is already on.
The minority attendance register is being filled. Last week, BJP leaders went to Turkman Gate to convince Muslims to participate. Though, this was not allowed by the police owing to recent communal tensions in Muzaffarnagar, Delhi BJP leaders like Khem Chand Sharma, Raman Malik, Vijay Jolly met Muslim Ulamas. Party sources said over 5,000 Muslims are expected.
Since he has been a crowd puller among the youth, special buses will roll to bring college students. A separate enclosure for the youth has been prepared. The Modi model of efficiency is visible at the venue: separate parking facilities for cars, two-wheelers and buses have been prepared. You cannot miss the signs put up all over area directing people to the venue.
After the rally, it would be time for Modi to relax. At 7 pm, BJP’s maximum leader would attend a Bharatanatyam performance by the Los Angeles-based artist Mythili Prakash at Chinmaya Mission Centre.
The wooing of Delhi is multipronged: the venue boasts 10 entry points christened Vikas Dwar, Samridhi Dwar, Sushasan Dwar, Yuva Shakti Dwar, Mahila Shakti dwar, Antyodya dwar, Sankalpa Dwar, Vridha Samman Dwar, Samskar Dwar, Sewa Dwar. Over 1,000 volunteers will manage crowds and also provide aid from drinking water to medical aid; 50 water tankers and seven lakh water pouches would be distributed to the thirsty. To counter the dengue scare, organisers assured that the venue has been fumigated.
Delhi Police expect over 1,000 buses and 3,000 passenger vehicles to arrive bearing supporters for the rally from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Each bus has a different colour scheme identifying the seven constituencies in Delhi making it easier for all to reach and depart the venue.
Sources say he would not be addressing BJP’s rivals in Delhi—Sheila Dikshit or Arvind Kejriwal. Instead, in keeping with his national stature, he would speak on national issues. Modi is determined to make his Delhi entry a global event. He has invited 40 diplomats from Europe and the Americas.
The BJP has asked for special facilities from Delhi Metro to ensure those coming don’t face commuting problems. “To handle the crowd, Delhi Metro would be running all its rakes on the Dilshad Garden-Rithala route. Also the frequency of trains has been reduced from five minutes to 3-3.5 minutes. For the first time, metro would be selling group return tickets,” said Vijender Gupta, responsible for rally management. All feeder buses would carry people from the Rithala metro station to the venue. Illegal parkings in and around the venuw will invite stiff fines.
Nitin Gadkari, who is in charge of the Delhi Assembly elections, has been working overtime to bring together all warring factions to provide a united face. “The party set up 18 committees to include almost 100 of state party leaders including MLAs, councillors, and office bearers. If Goel is the party president angling for CM’s post, his bête noire Gupta has been made in charge of the rally.” said a BJP leader.
On Saturday, in a sign of political preparations to come, Goel was accompanied by V K Malhotra, Gupta, former Mayor Arti Mehra and senior BJP leader Vijay Jolly at a press conference. On the day, Modi declares that ‘Dilli door ast nahin,’ the party leadership hopes that the cracks within would be cemented over for all time.