Bhopal: On a day intended to spotlight party’s rebuilding, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi brief visit to Bhopal took a dramatic turn — this time, not for his words, but for what he wore. During his visit to Bhopal, the Leader of Opposition paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by laying flowers at her statue – without removing his footwear. This gesture, seen by some as a mark of disrespect, fueled a heated debate, overshadowing the very narrative of party unity.
Rahul Gandhi’s act evoked reactions from the Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, “Rahul Gandhi did not remove his shoes while paying tribute to his grandmother, Indira Gandhi. It didn’t quite sit right. This goes against our cultural values. He should be a little more mindful of such things.”
Rahul Gandhi is set to attend various programmes in the city as a part of the Congress’s ‘Sangathan Srajan Abhiyan’ (Organisation Rejuvenation Campaign).
According to the program schedule, Rahul Gandhi will chair a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee at the state Congress office and discuss the political situation of the state with the senior state leadership.
Thereafter, he will have interact with MPs and MLAs and hold discussions on Sangathan Srijan with representatives. Additionally, the Congress MP will also attend a special meeting with newly appointed observers by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in each district of the state.
Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi will participate in a meeting of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates, which includes representatives from AICC, state congress, district congress presidents and block presidents at Ravindra Bhavan Auditorium in the city.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari called Gandhi the hero of the caste census and called it an important day in the history of Indian politics.