BJP social media exposes Amit Shah’s airport rally

A workers’ rally of a political party at a civil airport may look unlikely but when it comes to BJP’s national president Amit Shah, nothing is impossible.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), in charge of airport security, looked the other way when Shah addressed party workers in a corner of the terminal building at Dabolim airport over the weekend. It is a high security area and doubles up as a military airbase as well.

But rules or restrictions were never a deterrent to Shah, who had his way. He addressed BJP workers inside the airport and left. When photographs of the event began circulating, they caused enough outrage for BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar to defend the violation of rules by claiming that it was an ‘emergency reception’ that was held spontaneously at the last minute.

Unfortunately for him, videos and photographs circulating on social media belie his claim. They show a makeshift dais, sofa sets, red carpets, chairs, a podium and apublic address system being used by the participants. The visuals also show ropes strung to keep people out of the enclosure.

“The dais was set up at the last minute to welcome Shah and the BJP did not have a rave party,” Tandulkar was quoted as saying. His clarification followed a complaint by social activist Adv. Aires Rodrigues against the “illegal and unauthorised” public meeting.

Ironically, the pictures and videos shared by BJP activists on social media call the bluff on Tendulkar’s damage control exercise. A video titled “Grand welcome of Shri Amit Shah on his arrival at Goa Airport” shared on YouTube by a Bhartiya Janata Party account can be viewed here:

The video shows Amit Shah walking to the stage—that has been set against the backdrop of a large banner—and waving at the cheering crowd amid fervent sloganeering. Subsequently, he can be seen flanked by Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar, Union minister Sripad Naik, local party chief Vinay Tendulkar and minister Mauvin Godinho sitting on the sofa sets. Jubilant beats of drums can also be heard in the background.

In the video, Amit Shah expresses his gratitude to the “huge gathering” with a smile. He then went on to explain his schedule during his two-day visit to the state while praising the Goods and Services Tax.

A picture showing Amit Shah at the podium addressing the gathering in front of over half a dozen cameramen and media persons, was also shared by a Bhartiya Janata Party page on Facebook.

Taking a dig at the BJP chief, Arun Myssore tweeted that Amit Shah may hold his next party meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s House):