Phulpur:
Rahul Gandhi came to Phulpur, he spoke, he launched the Congress' Uttar Pradesh election campaign with the sharpest of words against the Mayawati government. But the morning after, the strongest aftertaste is that of controversy. From a Rahul Gandhi remark and from an ugly scuffle that saw top Congress leaders beat up protesters who had breached Mr Gandhi's security.
The Congress General Secretary's comment at his rally yesterday on migrants from UP going to other states to beg has triggered a big war of words. "How long will you beg in Maharashtra (for work)? How long will you work as a labourer in Punjab? It will take only five years and the change will come," he said.
(Watch: What Digvijaya Singh said)Mr Gandhi spoke for long attacking the UP government on development, on corruption and such like, but the target of his ire, Chief Minister Mayawati cannily picked out that one comment to respond to.
By the evening, she had delivered her comeback. "The people of UP are hardworking and proud, not beggars. Rahul's comment is wrong, insulting," she retorted in response to Mr Gandhi's remarks. The BJP also said Mr Gandhi's remarks were out of line. "How many times has Rahul Gandhi gone to Maharashtra and seen people from UP and Bihar begging there? He has hurt the sentiments of the people of UP," said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.
In Maharashtra, where the Congress has always defended the migrant workers' rights from UP and Bihar, Mr Gandhi's comment drew a sharp response.
"Let him take them back to his home... When we say it, we are blamed. But now, isn't Rahul talking about regional politics? Now, isn't Rahul spoiling the country's mood?" Uddhav Thackeray, Executive President of the Shiv Sena said.
NCP cautioned its ally, the Congress with party leader Tariq Anwar saying, "The scuffle between ministers and protesters should have been avoided."
And BJP Maharashtra leader Gopinath Munde said, "If someone goes out for work, that is not called begging for work... Rahul has insulted the people of UP and Bihar."
The Congress was quick and staunch in its defence of its young leader; Rahul Gandhi was merely pointing out the lack of opportunity in the state, they said. Party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury explained, "Rahul tried to awaken the sense of self respect of those from UP."
In Mumbai, party leader Kripashankar said today that there is no need to go by the word 'beg'. "We need to understand Rahul's sentiments. He was only expressing pain of the people of Uttar Pradesh."
Another spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi said, "The reaction of Opposition parties to what Rahul has said proves the impact of his words. It is evident from the restlessness of the Opposition that they have now begun fearing the rise of Congress in UP."
If the Congress leader's words have been controversial, the actions of his aides - including senior Congress leaders and even a minister - at the Phulpur rally venue has drawn flak too. As Rahul Gandhi's helicopter landed at the Phulpur ground on Monday, the camera caught Congress' UP Legislature Party chief Pramod Tiwari and Central minister Jitin Prasada among a crowd of Congress workers beating up protesters.
The Congressmen have defended their actions saying Rahul Gandhi could have been in danger. "His helicopter had not even landed, the dust had not settled when these nine men advanced towards him, what was their intention? It's very easy to say that they were terrorists or belonged to some political party; all I knew was that they were about to attack Rahul Gandhi and I tried to stop them with all my might," Mr Manish Tewari said.
The protesters, who were chased away by the police, were intially thought to be Samajwadi Party workers out to disrupt the rally. The Congress later said they were students demanding union elections at the Allahabad University. But they had breached security, and could have been a potential threat, the party has argued.
On the NDTV show
The Buck Stops Here, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who was present at the venue said, "Mr Rahul Gandhi is an SPG protectee. It was a breach of security at the helipad. These three boys jumped over the barricade and virtually came to the door of the helicopter. Anything could have happened, supposing there was someone else? There was definite breach of security and I think an enquiry should be ordered into that.
He admitted it the situation could have been handled better by the UP Police. And by the Congress? Mr Digvijaya Singh said they did not then who the people were.
The Congress wasn't rattled. "The reaction of Opposition parties to what Rahul has said proves the impact of his words. It is evident from the restlessness of the Opposition that they have now begun fearing the rise of Congress in UP," defended Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi.
If Mr Gandhi's shouldering of the UP campaign is not a give-away of how much is at stake in this state for different parties, there were plenty of other examples. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh was seen personally photographing Mr Gandhi. 12 Samjawadi Party activists were arrested at the Prayag station in Allahabad for burning Mr Gandhi's effigy. And in moments caught on camera that the Congress likely wishes it could rewind, legislator Pramod Tiwari and minister Jitin Prasada were seen in a crowd of Congress workers beating up protestors at Mr Gandhi's rally.