E-Paper
Rahul in Bundelkhand, camps at Dalit household
With elections to the Uttar Pradesh assembly closing in, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is carrying out a 'reality check' on the execution of a Rs 7,266 crore special package for the Bundelkhand region.
With elections to the Uttar Pradesh assembly closing in, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is carrying out a 'reality check' on the execution of a Rs 7,266 crore special package for the Bundelkhand region.
The region stretches over Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states. Uttar Pradesh's share of the package is Rs 3,606 crore.
On Monday night, Gandhi made an unscheduled visit to Medhki village in Mauranipur area and enquired about the problems relating to water, power and fertilisers.
Gandhi spent the night at the house of Kunji Kori, a dalit, and had dinner with the family. He had puri-subzi prepared by Arti, Kori's daughter-in-law. He later left the area after distributing toffees to the children.
On Tuesday, the second day of his mass contact programme in the region, Gandhi visited the Mauranipur inspection house. He was accompanied by state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi.
Gandhi has been visiting rural areas in the region and holding chaupals, or meetings, with villagers to understand their problems and get feedback on government welfare schemes.
Villagers complained that they were getting fertilisers at a rate higher than the market price. Slamming the Mayawati government, Gandhi said he had convinced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to announce a special package for the economically backward region.
