Countering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Chai pe Charcha’, Congressmen coined the new ‘Chane pe Charcha’ in Amethi as party vice president Rahul Gandhi interacted with party workers over ‘laiyya-chana’ - a staple snack in this part of Uttar Pradesh.
Gandhi on Thursday held an open house session with his partymen and assured them that he would soon take up tours across the state to galvanise the party.
Gandhi said that the party would allot tickets at least six months before the assembly elections.
The partymen lauded Gandhi for raising issues of public interest and targeting the Modi government for failing to keep promises made before the Lok Sabha elections. The industry representatives of his constituency pointed out that at least 80 percent of industrial units in Amethi had become sick and were on the verge of closure due to the apathy of the NDA government.
“The Indian Industries Association in Amethi has 7,000 micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as its members. Jagdishpur industrial area which was set up during the tenure of former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi has 250 working units. Most of these units are in a bad condition,” said chairman of IIA, Amethi chapter, Shahnawaz Ahmed.
“Gandhi has assured us that a meeting of the representatives of industrial units in his constituency would be held soon and their problems would be taken up with the central government,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“Gandhi has assured us that a meeting of the representatives of industrial units in his constituency would be held soon and their problems would be taken up with the central government,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Though Gandhi has been meeting the people of his constituency every time he visits Amethi – this was the first time when an open house was organised (away from Munshiganj guest house) at A local party office.
“This was Rahul Gandhi’s first open house with the partymen and the people. He will hold more such interactions with them to take feedback from them about various programmes,” said a senior party leader.
At least two persons sustained minor injuries as a tent fell down at the venue due to strong winds. The tent had been erected to prepare a makeshift waiting room for the people.
Gandhi later held a ‘chaupal’ at the house of Ravindra Singh, a resident of Gauraha village, whose wife is the village head. As ‘gur’ (jaggery) and ‘chana’ (roasted gram) were distributed among the people, the interaction was called ‘chane pe charcha’ as a reply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ’chai pe charcha’ programmes.
Before winding up his two-day visit, the Congress vice-president went from village to village to meet partymen, pay condolences and attend some social programmes . He is expected to visit Amethi next month to take part in a training programme.