The Hindu : National : Supporters mob Rahul Gandhi in Kanpur

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Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007
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National

National

Supporters mob Rahul Gandhi in Kanpur

Atiq Khan

"Vote Congress back to power for taking U.P. on the path of development"

KANPUR: Enthusiastic people greeted the young Congress Member of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, during his roadshow here on Tuesday. He was in the city, his first visit in more than two years, to campaign for the party's candidates contesting the 10 Assembly seats in Kanpur.

Tight security in the "sensitive" city deterred Mr. Gandhi from mingling with the people.

Mr. Gandhi started his roadshow after his election meeting in Bhartana in Etawah district from where Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh is contesting as the Samajwadi Party candidate.

Delay

Mr. Gandhi's roadshow was originally scheduled to start at 3 p.m. but was delayed by over two hours. After landing at the Indian Institute of Technology airstrip at around 4.30 p.m., Mr. Gandhi kicked off the roadshow at 5.15 p.m. and was immediately mobbed by hundreds of enthusiastic party workers at the Kalyanpur crossing.

Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal and Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajiv Shukla were in Mr. Gandhi's entourage. Both belong to Kanpur.

Moving from Kalyanpur, Mr. Gandhi reached the Sharda Nagar crossing where a crowd welcomed him by showering rose petals. From Chhaparia to Vijay Nagar he went to Govindnagar, which is the biggest Assembly constituency in Asia.

Ajay Kapoor is the sitting Congress MLA from Govindnagar. Thereafter, he proceeded towards 80 Feet Road locality, P Road locality, Gumti, Parade before winding the road show at Ghantaghar crossing.

Even though Mr. Gandhi did not address the gathering during his roadshow, at an election meeting in Bhartana, he slammed the Samajwadi Party Government for the complete absence of development in the State.

Mr. Gandhi said that about 50 per cent of the State's budget was met by the Central Government but the money was used for the development of a few districts.

He said that 15 years back, U.P. was placed fifth on the country's development ladder, today it had come down to the 20th position.

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