Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Jul 6: Accompanied by supporters, Rahul walked for eight kms from Bhatta Parsaul as part of his ‘Kissan Sandesh Yatra’ before briefly stopping at Rustampur village. Villagers came in droves to see and hear Rahul Gandhi, after hearing about his impromptu visit. No pre-planned routes were announced, nor was his itinerary for the day made public. During his interaction with the villagers, he repeatedly said that getting a fair deal for farmers was his priority.

Undaunted by the refusal of Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to permit holding of meetings in rural belts of Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi, seems to have decided to change his tactics. Clad in simple attire and accompanied by only three guards of Special Protection Group, he arrived at Bhatta Prsaul village on Tuesday July 5, and began his campaign for the 2012 UP polls from that village. It may be recalled that the UP government had turned down permission to hold Mahapanchayat at Bhatta Parsaul, claming that mega conventions in rural belts makes it hard to manage law and order situation

He went on foot from village to village, consumed simple food, and rested on the charpai (rope cots) of a farmer’s home. Rahul is set to continue with his village visits on foot till Saturday and reach Aligarh, where a Kissan Mahapanchayat is slated to be held there by his party. Although the Congress circles claim that this is not a pre-election exercise, it is felt that Rahul has perhaps decided to take upon himself the enormous responsibility of rebuilding the fortunes of his party in Uttar Pradesh.

During the day, Rahul also visited Nangla Bhatona, where he had simple food prepared by a farmer family. Wherever he went, he lent a sympathetic ear to the tales of sorrow from local villagers, extended his moral support, and urged them to participate in the Mahapanchayat at Aligarh. A number of villagers complained to him about large scale acquisition of farm lands by the government. Some more small villages were also visited by him in the evening, as part of his exercise to build the party base.

Rahul is set to resume his Padayatra in the state again next month.