A Window To Perceptive Journalism

It's all about talk, big talk:
Aawaz-e-Punjab talks in villages
about his talking skills in Parliament
But in Ferozepur, it is free style

S P Singh

Shahdin Wala (Ferozepur):

FEROZEPUR was never on the border; the International border came to live next to it in 1947. For a neighbour, an international border with an inimical country is always a bad choice, but Ferozepur never had that choice. Infrastructural development doesn’t cohabit with borders, and Ferozepur’s choices shrank further. 

Now, with Indo-Pakistan affairs emitting palatable vibes, Ferozepur is looking for someone to deal with the border, just pry it open enough to let development squeeze through. Trudging the crying-for-repairs roads in Ferozepur's villages, and stopping by at ramshackle panchayat ghars, primary school courtyards sporting false elementary school signboards, or veterinary hospitals run by a solitary class IV employee, Congress' Jagmeet Brar is promising development, via of course an open border. 

Pitted against Akali Dal’s synonym-for-muscle power Zora Singh Mann, Jagmeet knows it’s a tough job, and has set himself a 7 am to 2 am itinerary, campaigning for 19 hours at a stretch. "I fortify myself with a glass of milk and take missi roti enroute."  In Shahdin Wala, people flocking to his meeting notice that he actually drinks the water offered, and doesn’t carry mineral water. Voters notice things. 

In the villages of Ferozepur City and Cantonment Assembly segments, Jagmit's 15-vehicle convoy stops for 15 minutes each, and the MP-aspirant, welcomed with Aawaz-e-Punjab slogans, is offered what he likes best – the mike. 

"First thing I will do when I reach Parliament is to make opening of Hussainiwala border the number one issue. As long as border remains closed, no development is possible."

MLA Ravinder Babbal, ex-Minister Bal Mukand Sharma, dalit leader Lal Singh Sulhani and district Congress chief Anoop Singh climb atop the stage at all meetings, but Jagmeet is the only speaker. He is late by three hours in most villages, and plans to touch 33 in a day. If only Amarinder touches Ferozepur once! And people thought he was fighting just Zora.

Posters splashed in the area pose a question:  "Of the 545 MPs, who is among the top five?"  And depict Jagmeet in the foreground of Parliament building. Jagmeet’s whistle-stop convoy halts in villages like Shahdin Wala, Nathuwala, Hastiwala, Chugattewal, Bagge Ke Pippal, Rukanshahwala, Chingali Qadeen. Everywhere, his pitch remains the same: Getting scheduled caste status for Rai Sikhs, Scheduled Tribe status for castes like Natt, gadhirs, sansis, bhedkut etc. Currently, Punjab doesn’t have any ST. And of course, get the damn border opened. 

"You have heard me speaking in Parliament," Jagmeet tells the villagers. Most have heard him from a canter-fitted TV blaring out a thundering Jagmeet.  "And Zora Singh never opened his mouth in Parliament except during oath ceremony,"  Jagmeet adds. People find this believable; they have heard Zora speak.  "Zora will do good at a swearing ceremony, he is good at swear words,"  Jagmeet cracks a joke with me at opponent’s expense as he hits the road again.  

"But you have come from outside?" I asked Jagmeet. He isn’t provoked.  "Zora has tried this line and failed to cut ice. What’s important is what you did after going to Lok Sabha?"  Well, Jagmeet brought back a line to sell –  "I am the best in Parliament." 

Next to the veterinary hospital where Jagmeet addressed the meeting, someone points to a Meher Hair Style signboard with a huge handle bar moustache adding to the shaan of a rather large nosed man. Underneath, it says Ithhe har taran de mucchh de kundal banaye jaande han (All kinds of moustache set here). 

In Ferozepur, Jagmeet, knowing fully well this fight is a matter of his muchh, is untiringly working for the most impressive whisker. Muchh-wise, Zora’s is also impressive. One hopes the best one will be seen in Parliament. Loser can always return to Meher Hair Style. Till then, it’s all free style.■ 

May 3, 2004

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