25 year old ‘Gadar’ connection again in discussion, BJP gives Rajya Sabha ticket to Gopi Krishna Pandey
Kanpur. Gopi Krishna Pandey, who was made BJP candidate for Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh, has suddenly come into political limelight. After the name of Pandey, who was away from public political discussion for a long time, came to light, along with his organizational journey, a 25 year old story is also in the news. This incident is from the year 2001, when Narendra Modi came to Kanpur and stayed at Gopi Krishna Pandey’s house. During the same time, both of them had also watched the film ‘Gadar’ with the workers.
BJP has announced the names of eight candidates including Gopi Krishna Pandey for the Rajya Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh. The list includes Dharampal Singh, Shruti Gangwar, Radhakant Ojha, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Gopi Krishna Pandey. After the announcement of Pandey’s name, discussion has started among his supporters and party workers in Kanpur about his old political journey.
Gopi Krishna Pandey has been active in organizations associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP for a long time. According to reports, he held different responsibilities in Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagran Manch and BJP Yuva Morcha. He was also active during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. After this, working at various levels of the organization, he reached the State Working Committee of BJP.
The most famous incident related to Pandey is of the year 2001. At that time, a meeting of All India Pracharaks of the Sangh was organized in Kanpur, in which senior officials and pracharaks associated with the organization from all over the country had reached. Narendra Modi was handling organizational responsibilities in BJP at that time. After reaching Kanpur, he stayed at Gopi Krishna Pandey’s house. Different reports mention his stay there for two to three days.
It is said that during that time Narendra Modi’s hair had grown a lot. A barber was called at Gopi Krishna Pandey’s house and his hair was cut. After this he got ready after bath and meal. There was an organization meeting the next day, while the evening time was free. During this conversation, a plan was made to watch a movie.
In those days, the film ‘Gadar’ starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel was in great discussion in theatres. According to reports, Narendra Modi, Gopi Krishna Pandey and some other workers reached Kanpur’s Lal Palace cinema hall and watched the film together. This incident happened in 2001 and now after Pandey got the Rajya Sabha ticket, it has again come into limelight.
The organizational acquaintance of Gopi Krishna Pandey and Narendra Modi is also said to be quite old. In various interviews, Pandey has mentioned his past relationships and meetings he had during the organization’s work. According to him, Narendra Modi’s working style and dedication towards the organization had deeply influenced him. Later he left his business and became completely active in organizational activities.
Talking about political journey, Gopi Krishna Pandey has been the state vice president of BJP Yuva Morcha. After this, he was also given the responsibility of State Vice President in BJP Kisan Morcha. The organization gave him the opportunity to work in other states also and he was associated with organizational responsibilities in states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. He has also been involved in the State Working Committee of BJP.
In recent years, Gopi Krishna Pandey was not seen in any prominent position. This is the reason why curiosity increased in political circles when his name appeared in the list of Rajya Sabha candidates. He has been recognized within the party as a worker who has worked for the organization for a long time. After getting the Rajya Sabha ticket, his old political and organizational record has come to the fore again.
Interestingly, Pandey told in a conversation that he came to know about his candidature through the media after the party’s announcement came out. After this there was an atmosphere of happiness among the family and supporters. BJP workers in Kanpur also congratulated him.
Making Gopi Krishna Pandey a Rajya Sabha candidate is also important from the point of view of Kanpur politics. BJP has expressed confidence in organizational faces like Prakash Pal and Gopi Krishna Pandey from Kanpur and its associated areas in this election. Shruti Gangwar also has family ties with Kanpur. In such a situation, the representation of Kanpur region in the BJP candidate list remains a topic of discussion.
At present, both Gopi Krishna Pandey’s candidature and his two and a half decade old political relations and organizational journey are in the news. That old incident of watching the movie ‘Gadar’ with Narendra Modi while staying at the house of an ordinary worker of the organization is now being remembered once again in the political circles after getting the Rajya Sabha ticket. For Pandey, this journey started with activism in organizations like Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch and has now reached the threshold of Rajya Sabha.