THE MEN THAT MATTER, AND THEIR ‘INTERESTING’ RELATIONSHIP!

It was a visual that is seldom seen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi alighted from the Air Force helicopter at Nathdwara on Wednesday and was received by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the helipad. To the surprise of those present, it was a ‘coincidence’ that the duo had donned almost similar clothes, white kurta and off-white Nehru/Modi jacket. The individuals, one — a premier of a Nation and the other — a premier of a State, met with extreme warm heartedness and compassion. While the duo are custodians and proponents of two separate political ideologies, which has long been at the opposite ends of the spectrum; yet there appeared no love lost between the two political bigwigs.

Their journey so far has been almost similar. Both have been influenced by ideas of service from an early age, both started giving their time to the idea in their teens, both of them struggled for that idea and through that struggle, rose to the political heights in their respective parties.

They followed the same line, yet the relationship between Modi and Gehlot is an inexplicable puzzle! On the one hand, there is a friendship on a personal level between the two. When Modi reached Nathdwara helipad on Wednesday, Gehlot warmly welcomed Modi. Coincidentally, the dressing sense of both was also almost identical and after this, from the stage in Nathdwara, Modi called Gehlot, his friend. In fact, in the past, Modi has termed Gehlot as the senior-most Chief Minister, while also showering many accolades on the Congress leader from time to time.

And this was visible by CM Gehlot’s gesture of receiving PM Modi at Nathdwara, an act, not many Opposition CMs adhere to, and yet CM Gehlot, displaying a sense of propriety, went ahead and received PM Modi. In turn, the PM too acknowledged Gehlot’ gesture and was all smiles and visibly happy on seeing his counterpart!

This ‘respect and honour’ that both the leaders have for each other, was visible during Gehlot’s address at Nathdwara as well. In fact, the duo even cracked light jokes among themselves, half a dozen times, while seated on the stage. When the CM stood up for his address, then the slogan of Modi-Modi echoed among the common people. In such a situation, PM Modi himself pacified the people by pointing from the stage. Along with this, he also indicated BJP State president CP Joshi to stop the people from raising slogans.

But on the other hand, both the leaders did not hesitate to surround and taunt each other’s party. Gehlot took sarcastic jibes from the stage in front of Modi and said that ‘whoever may be in the government, but the Opposition should be respected. We used to compete with Gujarat in development, now Rajasthan is far ahead of Gujarat’.

Meanwhile, PM Modi too targeted the Congress rule and said that ‘Some people don’t want to see good happening in the country, they only like to create controversy’. And after this statement of Modi, Gehlot tweeted his reaction and said that PM should have avoided giving political statement in his (Gehlot’s) presence in the government program.

Everything said and done, the ‘relationship’ between Modi and Gehlot is akin to that of mature individuals where even though they call out each other before the public, yet there is a deep admiration between two for each other.