On Surprise Visit to UP, Rahul Stays at Dalit’s House; Mayawati Fumes

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi made a surprise visit to Uttar Pradesh and spent the night at a Dalit’s house in a village in Shravati district. However, Mayawati government believed that the Congress MP did not follow security norms.

Gandhi, who is on a surprise visit to the state, visited Ram Nagar area in Barabanki district on Wednesday. He then arrived to the district last evening and drove straight to Chutkaideh village under Rampur Devman Gram Panchayat area, said a party worker.

After mingling with the locals, he spent the night in the house of a Dalit Gram Pradhan Chedi Pasi.

The news of the visit by Rahul took the district officials by surprise who said that they had not been informed about his programme or itinerary.

The state government is now reportedly planning to complain to the Centre for what it sees as a security protocol breach. The government has also dubbed Rahul’s behaviour as irresponsible.

Sources in Barabanki said Rahul’s convoy had a brief halt at Ram Nagar tehsil crossing on Gonda-Bahraich road.

It apparently took the authorities hours to put together all the information that had trickled down about Rahul’s visit.

Rahul enquired about the problems of power, potable water, the dismal state of roads and assured the local people that their problems will be redressed.

Rahul also took stock of the ongoing works under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and power supply among other issues.

The Congress after its better than expected showing in UP in the General Elections is expected to give UP Chief Minister Mayawati stiff competition in the Assembly elections.

Gandhi is likely to visit a school in neighbouring Tilhar village today where he will meet with the children and the locals to get the first hand account of their problem, the worker added.