new delhi, Sept 11
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s second day in Raebareli was marked by high drama, sharp political statements, and public outreach during.
After holding a massive Janata Darbar and chairing the Disha (District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee) meeting, tensions ran high with walkouts and political protests from Opposition leaders and even allies.
Speaking to the media after chairing the Disha meeting at the District Collectorate, Rahul Gandhi made explosive allegations against the government. “It’s a reality that governments are being formed through vote theft. We will soon present proof,” he said, adding, “Those who are irritated, don’t worry. A hydrogen bomb will explode soon, and everything will be clear.”
He further said that votes were robbed during the assembly election in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. More than one crore votes were misused during these elections.
This cryptic but powerful statement has sparked speculations about potential revelations from the Congress party in the coming days.
Meanwhile, MLA from Unchahar, Manoj Pandey, already expelled from Samajwadi Party, boycotted the Disha meeting, demanding a condemnation of the recent incident where abusive remarks were allegedly made against PM Narendra Modi’s mother from a stage in Bihar associated with the Congress.
Rahul Gandhi reportedly refused to support the resolution, prompting Pandey to walk out in protest. “Rahul Gandhi’s attitude is extremely rigid. This is an insult to the mothers of this country,” he said after leaving the meeting.
In another controversy, SP-supported Block Pramukh Shivani Singh, daughter-in-law of SP MLA Devendra Pratap Singh from Sareni, walked out after being denied entry to the Disha meeting.
“I was invited, yet stopped at the gate multiple times by the local police officials. Is this justice?” she asked. Expressing her anger, she announced her plan to file complaints with the DM and SP regarding her “humiliation”.
BJP State Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, who had earlier staged a protest against Rahul Gandhi’s visit, was seen sitting right next to him during the Disha meeting, raising eyebrows about the political optics of the event.
Earlier, on the second day of his visit to his parliamentary constituency Raebareli, Rahul Gandhi held a massive Janata Darbar at the NTPC Guest House, where he directly interacted with more than 1,000 residents, addressing a wide range of local issues and grievances. The public outreach program was seen as the key to Gandhi’s grassroots engagement strategy, allowing him to listen to concerns first-hand and issue immediate directions to the district administration.
One of the most touching moments occurred when a disabled youth, carried on his brother’s back, approached Rahul Gandhi to request for a tricycle.
Moved by the scene, Gandhi assured swift action and directed officials to provide the necessary support under existing welfare schemes.
Representatives of the Udyog Vyapar Mandal submitted a memorandum regarding frequent waterlogging at the Unchahar underpass during the rainy season. In response, Rahul Gandhi directed SDM Rajesh Kumar Srivastava to resolve the issue within a month, coordinating with NHAI to ensure a permanent solution.
Locals raised the demand for direct electricity supply from NTPC, citing irregular power access. Gandhi promptly issued a letter to the NTPC General Manager, requesting action as per rules and public need.
Ramrati, a woman from Umran village, requested for a house under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana. Rahul Gandhi instructed BDO Sunil Kumar Singh to look into the matter and ensure housing is provided through proper government channels.
Mohammad Farooq, another local, highlighted the issue of rising unemployment and the difficulty Indian youth are facing in getting visas to Gulf countries. He demanded that India’s foreign policy should be reviewed to improve overseas job access. Gandhi assured him that his concern would be raised at appropriate forums.
Harvinder Singh Saluja, President of the Gurudwara Guru Singh Sabha, met Gandhi and requested for the creation of a corridor to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, to be observed in November. Gandhi described the meeting as “meaningful” and expressed full support for the initiative.
The locals and Congress workers from Sareni Assembly segment raised several issues, including poor infrastructure and lack of accountability from local officials. They complained that repeated complaints to the administration had resulted in only verbal assurances. Gandhi took note of these concerns and assured follow-up. After the DISHA meeting, Rahul Gandhi left for Delhi.
