Pro-Baba rally turns into a song and dance fest

Although the songs, all patriotic, were carefully chosen by the group performing, party’s chief whip in the Assembly C T Ravi thought it fit to dance, even as the  BJP big boys, including State President K Eswarappa sat back, enjoying the live music.

Ravi prompted MLA Prabhu Chavan among others to follow suit and within no time, the dais, meant to protest against the Centre’s “atrocities” against Ramdev turned into a platform for BJP members to flaunt their ability to jive.

The protest as in the eyes of Mallaiah, a ragpicker who was present at the event since dawn, was: “It was a good day. I generally have to walk a lot everyday to gather paper and plastic but today I got a lot here and as a bonus, I got food, music and dance.”

Given that the protest was in support of Ramdev’s efforts, the BJP had in its list prolonged sessions of Yoga towards the evening. It started with Girija Vijaykumar performing various asanas, which BJP’s Vijaykumar claimed as he announced over the microphone was inspired by Ramdev.

However, on inquiry, Girija told Deccan Herald: “No, I neither learnt Yoga from him (Ramdev), nor was I inspired by him.”

Girija’s performance, which included three BJP women members standing on her while she was in a particular asana, was followed by Babu teaching the BJP members and the audience various breathing exercises.