Now, a 6 quintal flower garland welcomes neta

If suspended Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MP Ejaz Ali was presented a garland of currency notes at Patna airport last week, a more weighty welcome was accorded to Rajya Sabha MP from Lok Janshakti Party Shabir Ali on Monday when he came back from Delhi, reports Ruchir Kumar.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's 'maha mala' (grand garland made of Rs 1000 denomination currency notes has sparked off similar greetings in Bihar too.

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If suspended Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MP Ejaz Ali was presented a garland of currency notes at Patna airport last week, a more weighty welcome was accorded to Rajya Sabha MP from Lok Janshakti Party Shabir Ali on Monday when he came back from Delhi.

Five to eight of his supporters struggled to carry the marigold flower garland weighing 6 quintals for a few meters from the airport portico to greet him on his arrival. Given its bulk and weight of the garland a crane was used to fetch the garland close to the airport portico.

The welcome party and the crane caused inconvenience to passengers and threw the traffic out of gear.

The Airports Authority of India that manages the airport blamed the local police for the mess. "The city side of the airport comes under the jurisdiction of the district authorities. We had informed the local police station in advance about the LJP plan but it did precious little to prevent it," said Airport Director Arvind Dubey.

The Lok Janshatki party workers had also lined up elephants, horses and drummers to welcome Shabir Ali. Oblivious to the chaos they had caused, they were celebrating his stout opposition to the Women's Reservation Bill
in the upper house a few days ago.

Continuing from where he had left in the Rajya Sabha, an ebullient Ali said: "I will continue to oppose the women's quota bill in its present form."