Sonia Gandhi, in and as Second Renunciation

The Congress juggernaut of mourners and chest beaters began to roll outside the party office within an hour of party president Sonia Gandhi’s ‘‘Second Renunciation’’.

The Congress juggernaut of mourners and chest beaters began to roll outside the party office within an hour of party president Sonia Gandhi’s ‘‘Second Renunciation’’.

The gaggle of stunned and bewildered party workers which began to congregate outside party headquarters on Akbar Road and 10 Janpath, the Gandhi residence next door, soon swelled and seethed, crying hoarse about their leader’s ‘‘sacrifice and divinity’’ and the BJP’s ‘‘treachery and malice’’.

But this was no carnival of grief of two years ago, when thousands had swirled around 10 Janpath, pleading with her to take up the prime minister’s post she had renounced so dramatically. This time, there was anger and pride, outrage and faith, indignation and hope for their leader’s ‘‘purification’’ and the enemy BJP’s ‘‘shame’’.

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The Bihar contingent of Dr Ashok Ram, CLP leader and member of the party’s CEC and his group of four party colleagues are proud they were the first to arrive. Says Ram, ‘‘Shame on the BJP. In the last two days, their leaders have been spreading all this rubbish about Soniaji’s office. The EC has not reported anything, but she has shown the highest morality by resigning and contesting again. She has done the right thing.’’ In typical Congress excess, Ram’s colleague proudly points to the 500-strong Bihar sympathisers who, of course, do not exist. He is, however, candid when he admits they happened to be at the party headquarters for a meeting when the news broke out.

Another dozen women squatting on the road, chanting slogans and clapping hands in unison, reveal they are from regions as far-flung as Vidarbha in Maharashtra, to Trichy in Tamil Nadu. They admit they are in the Capital to attend a meeting of the Nirmal Gram Puruskar sammelan. Vimala Ganesan, state TN president exults, ‘‘Sonia Gandhi has shown she is above greed and power. If this vengeful BJP wants to create trouble, she has given peace by resigning. She is a picture of virtuosity and peace…who would ask for clemency for her husband’s murderer when she said she forgave that Nalini?’’ she says.

As the clutch of faithfuls fall in place, the street begins to take on the colours of a fairground — flags wave and flutter above as groups of Delhi Youth Congress workers march up and down shouting slogans and protests, sometimes knocking down giggling bystanders; television satellite dishes whirr up to position; banners scream Sonia’s sacrifice.

But there is consternation and confusion among members of the Delhi Sikh Pratinidhi Sabha. While Navneet Singh is thrilled that Sonia’s resignation has ‘‘shut the Opposition up’’, his colleague, Ravinderjit Singh Chandhok, scratches his beard wondering whether Sonia buckled under pressure from the Opposition. ‘‘What can I say, but at least now, no one can implicate her falsely,’’ he says.

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Suddenly a frisson of excitement and fear cuts through the crowd as the acrid smell of kerosene wafts in the air — no Congress tyagi threatening to self-immolate, only workers burning pictures of BJP leaders LK Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Despite the lack of the suicide squad this time (remember the Congressman who waved a gun for two hours threatening to kill himself two years ago), the motley crew got a shot of momentousness and worth. Delhi strongman Sajjan Kumar shouted in vantage position on top of his Tata Safari, Minister Elongavan spoke to the Tamil contingent, reminding them that a ‘‘mother always sacrifices for her children’’. Jagdish Tytler too made an entry, but he was a picture of composure, pacifiying his supporters.

Some things don’t change, though. A bystander couldn’t help a jibe, pointing at Gurmeet Singh Sethi, famous for being a Manmohan Singh-lookalike and a desperate attention-seeker: ‘‘Even an imposter of Singh saab is ignored when it comes to Soniaji’’.