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Narayanpur menfolk unimpressed by Sonia's visit

Tara Shankar Sahay in Jehanabad

The dalit women in Narayanpur might have been bowled over by the sympathy displayed by the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi but the men appear unimpressed, saying, "Leaders come and go but our plight remains the same."

According to Sarjoodas, a 54-year-old inhabitant of the village, most villagers expected little of the politicians' visits since the Ranvir Sena continues to flourish. Sarjoodas said the Dalit womenfolk of Narayanpur were weeping before every stranger than came and that Congress workers had worked a kind of magical spell, telling them the " gori mem " (Sonia Gandhi) was coming to make them happy. He said when Gandhi's spontaneously hugged some women, came, the latter openly cried but could communicate little.

Damayanti, 22, could not stop gushing. Damayanti, who is Sarjoodas' niece, said she was overawed when the Congress chief affectionately put her hand on her shoulder and asked her to speak about what happened.

Sarjoodas isn't the only cynical person there. Almost all the men were unenthusiastic about Gandhi's visit. They said that after the brouhaha died down, fear would return to stalk their tiny village, which has become the latest symbol of upper caste savagery.

Congressmen, who had descended in droves in Narayanpur to make their party chief's visit a success, were taking this opportunity make an impression on their president. State Congress chief Sadanand Singh refused to talk to reporters, saying, "Madame ke lautane ke baad sawal kijiyega." [You can ask questions after madame returns to Delhi].

Congress worker H L Verma, who assists the state party chief at the Sadakat Ashram Road office, could not say whether the party had initiated any measures to prevent attacks by the Ranvir Sena on dalits in central Bihar.

In fact, most Congress workers distinctly gave the impression that Narayanpur was foreign territory for them and that they would be more comfortable on home turf, Patna.

Gandhi's silence on the party's stand on the imposition of president's rule in Bihar could also backfire, since it could be seen as tacit support for the RJD.

Most local Congressmen are overjoyed that the Rabri Devi government has been dismissed and President's rule imposed since that allows them freedom to carry out party activities without fear of Laloo Yadav and his henchmen.

Sadanand Singh's belated statement welcoming President's rule has indicated that the party high command might be having second thoughts about remaining silent on the issue. Senior Congressmen pointed out that Sadanand Singh would not have welcomed President's rule in Bihar unless he had received some signal from the high command.

And while the politicians consider the options, the women of Jehanabad mourn the dead.

Ranvir Sena butchers 11 Dalits in Bihar

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