Varanasi’s Gandhigiri: Youth say it with flowers

A group of youngsters in Varanasi on Tuesday responded to violence against North Indians in Mumbai, not with force, but with flowers. The volunteers of the Vande Mataram Sangharsh Samiti — a social organisation — welcomed Marathi pilgrims to the city with floral garlands.
Led by VMSS convenor Anup Jaiswal — also a BJP leader — the young volunteers reached Varanasi Railway Station early on Tuesday

When the Ratnagiri Express train from Mumbai entered the station at 9.15 am, the men hurried into it and started searching for Maharashtrians by asking the passengers about their identity, just like the MNS youths did on local trains in Mumbai on Sunday. And once their identity was established, they were not roughed up but welcomed with garlands.

The beaming Marathis, including a 35-member group led by Damodar Gokhale and Sudesh Gaikawad or even the aged couple, Vinayak and Rukmini Patil, were truly surprised.

“When the youths entered the train, we thought we were in for some real trouble as a response to MNS rowdism in Mumbai. But the warm hugs and floral welcome have re-endorsed the permanent belief that not only Kashi but its people are also truly amiable,” the Patil couple told The Indian Express.

“We do not believe in replying violence with violence, but will tackle Raj Thackarey’s nonsense with flowers, just like Munnabhai solved most complex problems with his ‘Gandhigiri’ on the silver screen,” Anup Jaiswal said.

Interestingly, the riverine localities of Varanasi, including Durga Ghat, Shitla Ghat, Ram Ghat, Brahma Ghat, Panchganga Ghat and Assi Ghat house nearly 900 Marathi-speaking families since generations.

“Varanasi for us is just like Maharashtra and gestures like these will certainly give a befitting reply to Raj Thackarey’s goons in Mumbai,” said Sadhna Vedanti, BJP municipal corporator from Rajmandir area.

Courtesy:indianexpress.com
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