Battle for 2012 polls: groundwork begins on ambedkar anniversary

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Since Wednesday’s event coincided with BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary,Rahul Gandhi wanted to start the proceedings by garlanding a nearby statue of Ambedkar. But since the BSP had put up pandals around the statue,he garlanded a photo of Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi placed on the stage.

Maya’s up in the air survey
Contrary to expectations,Chief Minister Mayawati chose not to visit Ambedkarnagar,where the BSP had organised a parallel rally as part of its state-wide protests against the Women’s Reservation Bill. Instead,she took off in a helicopter and made an aerial survey of the BSP protests in some districts.

Diggy missing
All five Congress Union ministers from UP,most MPs and almost all senior leaders were present on Wednesday’s rally. Digvijay Singh,AICC general secretary in-charge of UP,who is reportedly in the US on a personal visit,was missing.

Black flag protests
During Rahul Gandhi’s speech,a few men got up and began waving black flags,shouting “Rahul Gandhi murdabad”. The Congressmen beat them up and then handed them over to the police. The men told the police that they were from the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha and were protesting against the implementation of the Sacchar Committee recommendations.