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Mass hysteria outside 10 Janpath

A woman police officer tries to snatch razor blades from Congress activists who threathened to kill themselves during a demonstration outside their party President Sonia Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding that she stuck to her decision to become the Prime Minister. — PTI photo

New Delhi, May 18
As news spread thick and fast that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was reluctant to take over as Prime Minister, the scene outside her residence was one of mass hysteria, utter chaos and confusion with party workers ready to lay down their lives if she did not relent.

In a scene which looked straight from a Hindi film, former MP, Gangacharan Rajput who lost the recent Lok Sabha election from Hamirpur stood atop a vehicle pointing a pistol on his forehead and holding a crutch, threatening to commit suicide.

Not to be left behind in a show of solidarity with Ms Gandhi, Mahila Congress workers were writing letters and signing with blood, requesting her to change her mind.

“Real” life seemed to be more like “reel” life as hundereds of Congress workers filled up Akbar Road, climbing over cars and trees, raising slogans against the Sangh Parivar and in veneration of their “Great Leader”.

Similar expression of support for Mr Nehru and Mrs Indira Gandhi during rallies and ‘dharnas’ decades ago paled before the demonstration held today in front of 10, Janpath, the official residence of Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Cops were having a tough time trying to dissuade party workers.

SPG personnel were pushing everyone away from the outer boundary of Ms Gandhi’s bungalow but their efforts to calm down the people was yielding little results.

As Congress activists continued their protests, police blocked Akbar Road where demonstrators squatted on the road.

They were joined by Congress workers from various states. Security has been tightened around Ms Gandhi’s residence and the AICC office.

Hundreds of Congress workers and supporters thronged the Janpath residence of Ms Gandhi shortly after word spread that she had declined to take over as Prime Minister and instead she wanted someone else from the party to occupy the top post.

The workers and their leaders in separate groups squatted on the busy Akbar Road paralysing the traffic. Police ultimately sealed the road from both ends.

A local Delhi Congress leader, Mr Om Prakash Singhal, went on an indefinite fast near the main gate of her residence, saying he would not break it till she agreed to head the government.

The angry workers continuously shouted different slogans like “Desh ki pradhan mantri kaisi ho, Sonia Gandhi jaisi ho and Sonia Gandhi apna nirnay wapas lo” (Country needs Prime Minister like you and Sonia Gandhi must withdraw her decision).

They also shouted slogans against BJP leader Sushma Swaraj who has threatened to resign her Rajya Sabha seat and tonsure her head in the event of Ms Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister. — PTI

Bid to storm BJP HQ
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
As the news of Congress President Sonia Gandhi refusing to become Prime Minister spread, a large number of Congress workers attempted to storm the BJP Headquarters shouting anti-BJP slogans.

However, swift intervention by Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi police personnel prevented a clash between the workers of the BJP and the Congress outside the BJP office at 11, Ashoka Road.

Chanting slogans against BJP leaders, especially Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharti and Govindacharya, the Congress workers tried to forcibly enter the premises to register their protest against the BJP’s opposition to Ms Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister.

The situation would have gone out of control had the Delhi Police not deployed a large number of police personnel outside the BJP Headquarters anticipating an agitation after the news spread about Congress President’s decision.

The BJP had also asked its youth wing members to be present in large number at the party headquarters as there were reports about a possible attack at the BJP office by some Congress supporters.

Meanwhile, sharply reacting to the attempt by Congress workers, the BJP today charged the Congress with resorting to “cheap tactics” and attempting to “create tension” in the country.

“Congress should find solutions to its internal problem on its own and not hold demonstrations outside offices of other political parties and trigger violence. This is an attempt to create tension and we condemn it,” party spokeperson Arun Jaitley told newspersons emerging from a meeting of NDA leaders at Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajapyee’s residence.

Immolation bids by Cong men

Lucknow, May 18
Dejected by the decision of Congress President Sonia Gandhi today to turn down prime ministership, three party workers attempted self-immolation in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Sanjay Sahai, a Congress worker sustained about 70 per cent burns when he self-immolated outside the Congress office in Kanpur this evening.

Sanjay poured kerosene and lit himself after Ms Gandhi announced she would not become the PM. — UNI