Fans go berserk for Mithun glimpse

JANGIPUR (MURSHIDABAD): Six hours' wait for a three-minute glimpse of their star. That was all that 70,000 villagers waiting at the Muneria High

Madarsa ground in Murshidabad's Jangipur 60 km from Behrampore town got on Friday.

They were waiting for Mithun Chakraborty, the Mahaguru of Bengali cinema to hear him speak about Pranab Mukherjee, the MP from Jangipur, an otherwise little known town in Murshidabad. The venue turned chaotic and the villagers violent after the tiring wait. Mithunda was escorted out after barely three minutes on the dais. Pranab couldn't even reach near the venue.

For nearly 10 days, Congress workers in Jangipur and the rest of Murshidabad had only one thing to talk about the high-voltage election campaign of Mithun Chakraborty with Pranab Mukherjee. The other speaker was Behrampore MP and Congress strongman Adhir Chowdhury.

From early afternoon, villagers had started gathering at the madarsa ground to catch a glimpse and hear the voice of their favourite star. The superstar was scheduled to arrive between 4.00 pm and 4.30 pm. In the blazing sun with no cover on their heads, the villagers waited. Two persons Bittu Sheikh and Salim Sheikh had to be hospitalised.

The venue wasn't the only place where Congress supporters and villagers had gathered in large numbers. Along the 60-km stretch of National Highway-34, between Behrampore and Jangipur, all the crossings were choking with people.

"I have seen Mahaguru on television for the last couple of years. Now, I have come to see him face to face," said Kundali Pal at Ratanpur. Finally, around 3.30 pm, Pal had her wish fulfilled as she saw the air-conditioned white SUV pass the crossing. A policeman pointed out where Mithun was sitting.

At Muneria, villagers were getting restless. Every 10 minutes, the Congress leaders went on announcing that Mithun would reach in five minutes. That didn't happen. The crowd, angry with the delay, started hurling shoes at the dais, forcing the local Congress leaders to scamper for cover.

Adhir Chowdhury reached the venue around 5.30 pm and was immediately handed over the microphone. Even Adhir, whose word is like gospel for Murshidabad residents, couldn't rein in the crowd. The MP was silenced in the din.

An aide of Pranab Mukherjee claimed that the minister was stuck at Jangipur bridge as the convoy couldn't move. Congress leaders alleged that the district administration had failed to provide adequate security to the external affairs minister.

At 5.55 pm, Mithun reached the venue. As he walked to the dais, clad in a white shirt, white trousers and dark glasses on, the situation turned more chaotic.

Congressmen and villagers alike rushed to touch the star and shake his hands. Mahaguru was visibly irritated with the jostling. Three or four times, he walked towards both sides of the dais and waved his hands. However, nothing could keep the villagers from rushing to the dais. Fearing a threat, security guards escorted him out in no time.

At the venue of the second meeting, Chhapghati 40 km from Muneria the scene was better. Though the crowd angered by the delay pelted stones at the dais, they turned sober once Mithun reached.

"I have not come here to campaign for any political party. I have very good relation with Pranab babu and came here out of respect," Mithun told the awe-struck villagers. Referring to shoegate, Mithun said new shoes should be hurled. "Don't throw old ones at the political leaders," were his words.