Mumbai:
While the BJP claims that nine lakh people attended its Sunday rally at the MMRDA grounds, Mumbai Police estimates have put it at over three lakh. The BJP claims that its biggest rally ever had this record turnout because of the
Narendra Modi factor. The Gujarat Chief Minister termed the moment as a historic one.
"This is a historic moment. I can see only people's heads till the horizon," he said.
BJP President Rajnath Singh said, "There are two seas here. One is the Arabian Sea. The other is the sea of people at this ground."
In spite of Mr Singh's presence at the rally, the rally was a Narendra Modi show. The ground started filling up since early morning and when Mr Modi arrived at around 2 pm, the crowd began swelling, with people spilling onto the streets.
As Mr Modi's chopper was spotted, a 'Modi Modi' chant went up in the air. The BJP's senior most leader LK Advani did not find space even in the posters at the rally. The BJP's local allies, Shiv Sena and RPI, were not invited.
Amidst allegations that cable networks were blacking out his speech at the behest of the administration, Mr Modi retorted, "You may not allow people to see Modi but remember Modi has made space in the hearts of the people."
The BJP claims it had mobilised the crowd to galvanise voters not just for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but also for the Maharashtra state elections that follow a few months later. Not surprisingly the Maharashtra government came under attack from Mr Modi.
In his speech, the BJP's PM candidate took on the state government on the Adarsh scam and Maharashtra's stagnating growth while praising leaders like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh. He also attacked Rahul Gandhi and the Congress on the issue of corruption, black money and minority appeasement.
Speaking on the issue of the Local Body Tax (created to replace Octroi duty), Me Modi said it was '
Loot Baatane ki Technique' i.e. technique to share the loot.
The rally was a big security worry for the Mumbai Police and their elaborate security plans did not make any exceptions. Industrialist Mukesh Ambani's son, Akash Ambani, was forced to use a designated gate even as his entourage pleaded with the police to use a VIP gate.