The Hindu : BSP gearing for mega rally

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003

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National

BSP gearing for mega rally

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW APRIL 12. The Bahujan Samaj Party is gearing itself for the "Mahapardafaash rally" being organised by it on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedker on Monday.

The preparations have been on a massive scale with blue-coloured gigantic elephant-shaped balloons in the sky and posters and festoons put up at every available spot. The venue of the rally — Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedker Maidan — has been given a new look. It has been made spacious and safe for those coming to listen to the BSP chief, Kanshi Ram, and the Chief Minister, Mayawati. A special helipad has been constructed for the BSP leaders.

Ms. Mayawati also plans to rename many landmarks after Dalit leaders. She is likely to rename the Sharda Canal, one branch of which flows along the road leading to the Ambedker Maidan, as "Bhim Ganga". Steps are also being taken for its beautification. Renaming of the Jail Road leading to the maidan as Parivatan Marg and another nearby road as Ambedker Marg, besides inauguration of Ramabai Sthal, a new tourist attraction on the banks of the Gomti, have also been planned.

The city is expected to attract huge crowds from various parts of the State and the entire Government machinery has been working overtime to complete the arrangements before the deadline.

Besides widening of roads, proper lighting arrangements and erection of traffic barricades on main thoroughfares, arrangements have also been made for the stay of the participants and parking of their vehicles.

The BSP has arranged six special trains for party workers coming from various districts. This has been done to avoid overcrowding in trains and stampede at the Lucknow Junction where 12 party workers had been killed in September last while returning home after attending a similar rally here. Detailed rail and road traffic plans have been prepared.

`No threat to Govt.'

PTI reports:

Ruling out any threat to her coalition Government in the wake of the Samajwadi Party releasing compact discs targeting her, Ms. Mayawati, today said despite different ideologies of the BSP and the Bharatiya Janata Party, the alliance was functioning smoothly.

``Both parties pursue different ideologies, but their coalition is based on mutual understanding and there is no threat to it'', Ms. Mayawati, who called on the senior BJP leader and Urban Development Minister, Lalji Tandon, on his birthday, told reporters.

On her controversial remarks contained in the two CDs, she said they were aimed at driving home a point among her party workers and did not reflect her disrespect towards anyone.

It was a matter concerning the party and had nothing to do with the mutual understanding among the coalition partners.

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