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| Chief minister Nitish Kumar pays homage to his mother late Parmeshwari Devi and (below) leaders, including JD (U) president Sharad Yadav, BJP leader Arun Jaitley, former minister Ramashray Prasad Singh and JD (U) MP Lallan Singh, at the prayer meet on Friday. Pictures by Deepak Kumar |
Patna, Jan. 14: Words are the most powerful way to express feelings. And it was visible at the all-religion prayer meeting held at the residence of chief minister Nitish Kumar to pay homage to his late mother Parmeshwari Devi.
Such was the power of words that Nitish could not hold back his emotions as a maulana spoke on the importance and role of mothers in one’s life at the prayer meeting.
The affair was simple, as could be gauged from the arrangements at the meeting. The temporary enclosures made for the meet were covered in white, symbolising the mourning atmosphere.
The chief minister first paid floral tributes to his mother so that others at the meet could pay their homage. The portrait of Parmeshwari Devi was put on the open courtyard on the premises.
The all-religion prayer meet went on for an hour and everyone was in attendance.
From the powerful people to common man, the chief minister’s residence was open to everyone today. There were also arrangements to distribute prasad among all. But security guards had to be deployed to control the crowd, mostly the party workers, who started jostling with each other to get prasad.
Politicians attended the meet irrespective of their allegiance. Leaders of JD (U), BJP and RJD were present.
Politicians who attended the meet included senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, JD (U) president Sharad Yadav, former Haryana chief minister O.P. Chautala, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Shahnawaz Hussain, Ravi Shanker Prasad and other ministers, legislators and presiding officers of both Houses of the state legislature. Filmmaker Prakash Jha was also present.
The most noticeable was estranged JD (U) Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh. Lallan, who vociferously criticised Nitish Kumar in the recent past, made a surprise visit to the chief minister’s residence. His presence may hint towards the possible change in political atmosphere with the changing weather conditions.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad was, however, conspicuous by his absence but Ram Kripal Yadav, Opposition leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Ram Chandra Purbey were present in the absence of the party boss.
Asked why Lalu could not come to the prayer meeting, Yadav said: “He could not attend the meet as he is out of the station.”
Common people, mostly JD (U) party workers from across the state, came to show their solidarity to their chief minister at his time of grief.
“We have come here to pay homage to the mother of our popular leader who has done a lot for the people,” said Lal Babu Gope, a party worker who had come from Muzaffarpur.