More than meets the eye

Cow protection seems to be the dominant narrative at the mammoth krishi mela being organised in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) by the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare. The official reason for holding the mela in Mathura was to commemorate the birth centenary of Sangh ideologue Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya, which falls this year, in his birthplace. Insiders, however, say much planning has gone into choosing the venue. UP goes to polls in 2017 and the western part of the state holds a lot of crucial seats. It is also here that the Bharatiya Janata Party sees the cow protection issue getting maximum traction among voters. A farmers' mela in an area which has suffered in recent months due to low sugar cane prices and damage to standing wheat crop could also help the party resurrect its image among local farmers.