Rahul begins U.P. tour with a temple visit

Flays Modi government over plight of potato farmers, GST, unemployment and Amethi development

Congress president Rahul Gandhi paying obeisance at a temple at Churuwa in Rae Bareli on Monday.

After triggering a political discussion by visiting Hindu religious sites in Gujarat during the Assembly elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid obeisance at a temple in Rae Bareli on his maiden visit to the Nehru-Gandhi bastion after taking over the party leadership from his mother.

Mr. Gandhi visited the Hanuman temple at Churuwa in Rae Bareli and participated in the Makar Sankranti puja at Salon. The Congress was prompt in releasing the pictures of Mr. Gandhi, a red tika smeared on his forehead, performing the Khichdi daan , with saffron and yellow threads tied to his wrist.

Followed by party workers and leaders, Mr. Gandhi’s cavalcade travelled all the way from the Lucknow airport, where he received a grand reception, to Amethi, passing through pockets of Rae Bareli. He had a stopover at a dhaba at Nighohan where he savoured hot pakoras and tea in kullad-pots in the company of Congress leaders, including PCC president Raj Babbar.

Before leaving for Amethi, he addressed a

nukkad sabha at Salon, criticising the Modi government over the plight of potato farmers, the GST, unemployment and “step motherly treatment” meted out to Amethi and Rae Bareli. He accused Mr. Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of failure to keep promises.