Sambit Patra accuses Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of conspiring to destabilise the Narendra Modi Government. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Kolkata:

An FIR was filed at a Kolkata-based police station on Sunday against the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for mentioning the date of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s demise on his official X handle, while paying tributes to him on his birth anniversary on January 23.

The FIR has been filed by the self-proclaimed Hindutva Group, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha at Bhawanipur Police Station in South Kolkata. After filing the FIR, the activists of the group also staged demonstrations near Netaji’s ancestral house at Elgin Road, also in south Kolkata, protesting against the contents of the controversial post by Rahul Gandhi.

According to the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha state president Chandrachud Goswami, Rahul Gandhi is carrying the same legacy who first forced Netaji to quit Congress and thereafter leave the country. “Rahul Gandhi and his ancestors always try to wipe out the memories of Netaji from the memory of the people of India. The people of India will punish him. As for us, we will always be protesting if anyone tries to distort information on Netaji,” Goswami said.

Earlier this week, the Congress MP in a post on X mentioned August 18, 1945, as the reported date of death of the iconic freedom fighter. The date mentioned by the LoP was the same date when the plane carrying Netaji from Saigon and destined for the then USSR-occupied Manchuria crashed at Taihoku (presently Taipei).

However, none of the commissions set up subsequently on Netaji’s ‘disappearance’ could ever confirm August 18, 1945, as the exact date of his death and a mystery surrounds the fate of the freedom fighter.

Following the post, Rahul Gandhi faced criticism from across the party lines including All India Forward Bloc, a party founded by Netaji himself after quitting the Congress party. The state leaders from both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP criticised Rahul Gandhi over the post.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The row over the choice of site for Dr Manmohan Singh’s cremation and a possible memorial in his name escalated today after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of “insulting” the memory of the former prime minister. 

Dr Singh, who served as India’s prime minister from 2004 to 2014, died at the age of 92 on December 26 at AIIMS Delhi. His last rites were performed today at the Nigambodh Ghat with full state honours. The choice of the funeral site was flagged by Mr Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as an “insult” to Dr Singh. 

“The great son of Mother India and the first Prime Minister of the Sikh community, Dr Manmohan Singh ji has been totally insulted by the present government by performing his last rites today at the Nigambodh Ghat. He was the Prime Minister of India for a decade, during his tenure the country became an economic superpower and his policies still support the poor and backward classes of the country,” Mr Gandhi posted on X.

“Till date, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised burial sites so that every person could have the last ‘darshan’ and pay homage without any inconvenience. Dr Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community,” he added. 

The BJP was quick to rebuke the Congress for raising the issue on the day of Dr Singh’s cremation. 

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised Mr Gandhi for his remarks, accusing him of stooping to a “new low in Indian politics.”

“This is a new low in politics of India, thanks to the Congress party. The kind of politics Congress is doing, especially Rahul Gandhi – who has tweeted about the cremation – is shameful. We in a cabinet meeting after the demise of the former PM Manmohan Singh – decided that since he was the PM and had a big stature  – the cabinet wrote a letter to Congress and Dr Singh’s family – where the cabinet said that we should build a memorial in his name so that the country and the world remember him for his positive works,” Mr Patra said in a press conference.

The BJP further accused Congress of hypocrisy, pointing out past instances of alleged disrespect toward its own leaders, such as former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and former President Pranab Mukherjee.

Dr Singh’s body was then taken to Nigambodh Ghat in a flower-adorned vehicle, accompanied by security personnel and a large gathering of supporters. Mr Gandhi walked alongside the procession and later helped carry the casket to the pyre.

At the cremation ground, the ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders from the Congress, such as Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Jairam Ramesh, were also present, along with senior BJP leaders Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.

Foreign dignitaries, including Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful, joined the ceremony to honour Dr Singh’s legacy.

The former prime minister’s eldest daughter, Upinder Singh, lit the funeral pyre, as Sikh priests recited Gurbani hymns. The ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute by the armed forces.
 

New Delhi:

The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police will investigate the First Information Report (FIR) against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who has been accused of injuring two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs at the Parliament complex, an officer said on Friday.

Besides, the crime branch will probe a counter-case filed by the Congress against members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in connection with the face-off between the two sides on Thursday, the officer added.

“The crime branch will now investigate the two cases,” the officer said.

Mr Gandhi has been booked under sections 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), 115 (voluntary causing hurt), 125 (act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 

On Thursday, ugly scenes unfolded between the Opposition and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs at the Parliament steps, during protests over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s alleged insult to B R Ambedkar in the House on Tuesday. A tussle between the two sides left former minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput injured.

Both leaders, one of whom is 69 years old, are in the hospital.

Mr Sarangi claimed that he got injured after Mr Gandhi pushed Mr Rajput. They were standing on the stairs when Mr Rajput allegedly fell on him. “Rahul Gandhi pushed a member of Parliament who fell on me after which I fell down…I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me…” Mr Sarangi had said. 

Various leaders of the BJP subsequently accused Mr Gandhi of hooliganism – allegations the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has denied. 

Later on Thursday, former Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, and party lawmakers Bansuri Swaraj and Hemang Joshi, filed a complaint against the Congress leader, and, among other things, accused him of attempt to murder. 

The opposition party, however, strongly rejected the claim and alleged that BJP MPs pushed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and “physically manhandled” Mr Gandhi. “Now they are accusing us of shoving them,” Mr Kharge said on Thursday.

A delegation of Congress MPs, including Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik, Rajiv Shukla and Pramod Tiwari, also filed a police complaint. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, several Congress MPs asked him to initiate an inquiry into the incident.

New Delhi:

After veteran NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead near his son’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra last night, a political slugfest has erupted over the killing between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties. While the BJP-led Maharashtra government has requested not to “politicise” the incident, Opposition leaders, notably from the Congress, have slammed the ruling dispensation over what they describe as a “collapse of law and order.”

Mr Siddique, 66, a prominent political figure known for his three-time stint as an MLA from Bandra West, was gunned down by unknown attackers outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East last night. According to the police, Mr Siddique sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the chest, and died of his injuries at Lilavati Hospital later that night.

READ | Baba Siddique Shooters Claim To Be From Lawrence Bishnoi Gang: Sources

Following the murder, Mumbai Police arrested two suspects who claimed to belong to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Bishnoi, incarcerated at Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, was also involved in the shooting incident outside the residence of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who is known to have been a close friend of Mr Siddique.

Political Slugfest

“The tragic demise of Baba Siddique ji is shocking and saddening. My thoughts are with his family in this difficult time. This horrifying incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. The government must take responsibility, and justice must prevail,” wrote Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments, calling Mr Siddique’s murder “shocking beyond words.” In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Kharge said, “The tragic demise of former Maharashtra Minister, Baba Siddique, is shocking beyond words. In this hour of grief, I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and supporters. Justice must be ensured, and the present Maharashtra government must order a thorough and transparent investigation. The culprits must be brought to book at the earliest. Accountability is paramount.”

READ | Strongman To Bollywood Mediator, Baba Siddique Beyond Lavish Iftar Parties

“The news of the murder of senior Maharashtra leader Baba Siddiqui is extremely sad. I pray to God to give the deceased a high place in heaven and give patience and courage to the family. What name will you give to such criminal incidents that are continuously happening in Maharashtra under the NDA rule?” asked RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that the ruling Mahayuti Alliance – comprising the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), BJP, and the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) – wasted no time in cracking down on the culprits.

“The Maharashtra government of Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar’s NDA government caught two accused within 24 hours. The search for the third accused is underway, and he will also be caught soon,” Mr Bhandari said. “Politics should not be done on this. Baba Siddique was a big leader. In Maharashtra, no one can escape the law. CM Eknath Shinde is personally monitoring the investigation.”

READ | Baba Siddique’s Shooters Lived In Rented House, Did Recce For Weeks: 5 Points

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal appreciated the state’s quick response while taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi.

“The unfortunate incident that happened with Baba Siddique can’t be condemned enough and we are all sad about this…but state government immediately sprung into action, some accused were arrested, nobody can show promptness more than this. When it comes to Rahul Gandhi and some other people, I am sad about the fact that they look for politics in such incidents as well. When Rahul Gandhi is asking questions about the law and order situation, he should also comment on the law and order situation of the states where his party is in power,” said Mr Khandelwal

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also urged the Opposition to not politicise the murder.

“We are very sad that our friend is lost. The opposition should not politicise this matter,” Mr Pawar said, adding that five teams have been formed and sent to other states to investigate the case. 

Law Enforcement’s Challenge

According to the police, out of the three shooters, two have been arrested – Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap, 19, from Uttar Pradesh – and one has been identified as Shiv Kumar, also from UP. A fourth person, believed to be the handler, is on the run.

The suspects had been monitoring Mr Siddique for months, conducting reconnaissance of his residence and office. The police revealed that the suspects had been paid Rs 50,000 each in advance for the hit and that arms had been delivered to them only days before the assassination.

Both arrested suspects are now in police custody, and the hunt for the others continues. Mumbai Police have also heightened the security around Salman Khan’s residence.

Prayagraj:

Pressing the demand for a nationwide “caste census”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said 90 per cent people of the country are sitting out of the system and the step should be taken in their interest.

He also said for the Congress, the “caste census” is the foundation and a tool for policy making.

Addressing the “Samvidhan Samman Sammelan” here, Rahul Gandhi said, “90 per cent people are sitting out of the system. They have skill, knowledge but no connections (with the system). That is why we have raised the demand for a caste census.” Asserting that before ensuring the participation of various sections of the society, there is a need to ascertain their numbers, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said, “For the Congress, the caste census is the foundation of policy making. It is a tool for policy making. We cannot make policies in the reality of India without a caste census.” Rahul Gandhi said just like the Constitution, the “caste census” is a policy framework and a guide for the Congress.

“Just like our Constitution, which is a guide in a way and it is being attacked every day, a caste census, a socio-economic survey, an institutional survey will be our second guide,” he said.

“We want the data. How many Dalits, OBC (Other Backward Classes), tribals, women, minorities, general caste people are there. We are trying to protect the Constitution through this demand for a caste census,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi said the Constitution is not for the 10 per cent of the country’s population, it is for all the citizens.

“The Constitution is protected by poor people, labourers, tribals and not (industrialist Gautam) Adani. If 90 per cent people do not have participatory rights, the Constitution cannot be protected.

“Our aim is to protect the Constitution. This (the Constitution) is a protective shield for the poor, farmers and labourers. Without it, the situation would be as it used to be earlier in the times of kings and emperors, who did whatever they wanted,” he said.

The former Congress chief alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to replicate the model of kings and emperors.

“You (Modi) consider yourself non-biological. You consider yourself connected with the god. Right after the (Lok Sabha) election, you had to bow down before the Constitution. This was not done by us but by people,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi said those who think that the “caste census” can be stopped or the 50-per cent ceiling on reservation cannot be lifted are dreaming.

“This will definitely happen. It cannot be stopped. Neither the caste census nor an economic survey or an institutional survey can be prevented and the 50-per cent barrier will also fall. All of these will happen,” he said.

The Congress leader asserted that the people of the country have made up their mind in favour of a “caste census”.

“The order of the people has come. The prime minister should accept it and implement it. If he does not do so, someone else will become the prime minister,” he said.

Hitting out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, Rahul Gandhi said ever since he joined politics in 2004, he has been “bothered and disturbed” by the leaders of the saffron party.

“I consider them (BJP leaders) as my guru, those who taught me what not to do. This is an ideological fight (with the BJP) and it will continue,” he added.

“Unlike Prime Minister Modi, I do my work considering it as my responsibility and not for others to remember me. It is Narendra Modi’s way of doing his work so that he is remembered. My thinking is that 90 per cent of the country’s power is utilised in making it,” the Congress leader said.

Rahul Gandhi recalled that he recently met a cobbler in Uttar Pradesh who told him that he does not get due respect from others and that people ridicule him.

“He has so much skill but he does not get any respect. There are thousands of people like him,” Rahul Gandhi said, stressing the need for their involvement and participation in the society.

Talking about skilled workers, such as cobblers, barbers, carpenters, washermen and others, he said, “Certification centres can be opened in all districts in which the network of these skilled workers can be utilised….” “My vision is that it should be known how much wealth is in the hands of the OBC, Dalits and labourers. What is the participation of these people in the institutions of India, be it the bureaucracy, the judiciary or the media?” he asked while claiming that 90 per cent Indians have no representation in the country’s top corporations, judiciary or media.

“The prime minister waived loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore of 25 people but no Dalit, tribal or minority-community member was there on the list,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Later, in a post on X, the Congress leader said: “The Caste Census is about building a policy framework that will deliver social justice. The Constitution promises justice and equality for every Indian. Yet, the harsh reality today is that over 90 per cent of our population is excluded from growth and opportunity.

“The 90 per cent Bahujans — Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, minorities, and also the general caste poor — are skilled and hardworking. Excluding them from opportunities is like shutting down 9 cylinders of a 10-cylinder engine — we simply won’t get very far as a nation.” He said the “caste census” will do more than just count the population.

“Like an X-ray it will reveal who has access to wealth and assets, identify the most marginalised communities, and highlight the families lacking basic needs and opportunities. It will show us who is and isn’t represented in our nation’s institutions — whether in government, business, media, or judiciary.

“The data from this census will be crucial in designing policies to address long-standing issues. For example, the arbitrary 50 per cent cap on reservations will be revised so that representation in government and education is fair for all communities…,” Rahul Gandhi said on the microblogging platform.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi responded Monday to the BJP’s criticism of his comments on the lateral entry row, calling the concept “an attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis”. “The BJP’s distorted version of Ram Rajya seeks to destroy the Constitution and snatch reservation from Bahujans…” he said on X.

On Sunday night Mr Gandhi said “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the UPSC”.

He claimed the government is “recruiting for important posts in central government through lateral entry” and that this meant “reservation (for) SC, ST, and OBC classes being openly snatched away”.

Lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis.

BJP’s distorted version of Ram Rajya seeks to destroy the Constitution and snatch reservations from Bahujans.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 19, 2024

Hours later the BJP responded, reminding Mr Gandhi it was the Congress-led UPA government that introduced the concept. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was among the BJP leaders who shot back.

“INC hypocrisy is evident on the lateral entry matter. It was UPA government which developed concept of lateral entry. The second Admin Reforms Commission was established in 2005…” he said on X.

Lateral entry

INC hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry.

The second Admin Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 under UPA government. Shri Veerappa Moily chaired it.

UPA period ARC…

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 18, 2024

Mr Gandhi wasn’t the only opposition leader to weigh in on the lateral entry row.

Akhilesh Yadav Calls For Oct 2 Protest 

On Sunday Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, whose party is a member of the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc, called lateral entry a “big conspiracy” against the country. Like Mr Gandhi, Mr Yadav also claimed the concept robs marginalised classes of their rights, including reservations.

“The time has come to launch a nationwide movement against the conspiracy being hatched by the BJP to place its ideological allies in high government positions through the back door in UPSC. This method will close the doors for today’s officers as well as for youth to reach higher positions in the present and future. Common people will be limited to the positions of clerks and peons…” he said on X.

“Whole plan is to snatch reservations and rights from PDA,” the ex-Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, referring to his core vote bank of ‘pichhde‘ (backward classes), Dalit, and ‘alpsankhyak‘ (minorities).

भाजपा अपनी विचारधारा के संगी-साथियों को पिछले दरवाज़े से यूपीएससी के उच्च सरकारी पदों पर बैठाने की जो साज़िश कर रही है, उसके ख़िलाफ़ एक देशव्यापी आंदोलन खड़ा करने का समय आ गया है।

ये तरीक़ा आज के अधिकारियों के साथ, युवाओं के लिए भी वर्तमान और भविष्य में उच्च पदों पर जाने का…

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 18, 2024

Akhilesh Yadav also called for a fierce protest on Gandhi Jayanti (i.e., October 2) to force the BJP to scrap the lateral entry concept. “Officials and youth… are requested… if the BJP government does not withdraw it, then stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us in starting a new movement from October 2. We will not tolerate corporate takeover of government machinery because of capitalist thinking…” he declared.

What Is Lateral Entry Row?

The UPSC recently announced a notification for recruiting Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries via lateral entry, which the opposition criticised on grounds it undermines the reservation rights of OBCs, SCs, and STs.

However, sources explained that the ARC had recognised that certain roles need specialised knowledge, which is not always available to civil servants, and it had recommended recruiting professionals from the private sector, academia, and public sector undertakings to fill these gaps.

READ | After Rahul Gandhi’s Attack On Lateral Entry, BJP’s “UPA” Reminder

The ARC proposed the creation of a talent pool of professionals who could be inducted, on short-term or contractual basis, bringing fresh perspectives in areas like economics, technology, and public policy.

The ARC also stressed the importance of integrating lateral entrants into the existing civil services in a manner that maintains its integrity and ethos while leveraging their specialised skills, sources said.

The scheme was formally introduced during Mr Modi’s tenure, sources said, and is driven by the need for domain experts to enhance efficiency and responsiveness of India’s administrative machinery.

In 2018 the government took a significant step by announcing vacancies for senior positions such as joint secretaries and directors, marking the first time professionals from the private and public sectors were invited to apply. The selection process was rigorous and emphasised qualifications and suitability.

With input from agencies

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Sultanpur (UP):

Ram Chet, a cobbler in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur, is no longer just another man stitching torn sandals and polishing leather shoes on the roadside. He is now the man in demand, people are coming to his makeshift shop to click selfies, officials are asking him if all is well and passers-by are stopping their cars to greet him. All thanks to a visit by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

In Sultanpur to attend a court hearing in a defamation case, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha stopped by Ram Chet’s shop. During this brief halt, Mr Gandhi asked the cobbler about his trade and also tried his hand at mending shoes. Visuals of him trying to stitch a sandal had gone viral. A day later, Mr Ram Chet got a sewing machine from the Congress leader. This machine makes it easier to stitch shoes and will help Mr Ram Chet in his work.

The cobbler said his life has changed after the Congress leader’s visit. “People are stopping their bikes, cars and calling out to me. He has given me a lot of respect,” Mr Ram Chet said.

The cobbler is getting huge offers for the footwear Mr Gandhi stitched that day, with one caller offering as much as Rs 10 lakh. “The offers are becoming bigger. They started with Rs 5 lakh and have now gone up to Rs 10 lakh. One caller offered me bags full of cash, but I refused. I won’t sell them,” he said. While responding to a reporter’s questions, the cobbler jokes, “Rahul Gandhi is my partner. We run the shop in partnership.”

Mr Ram Chet said he won’t return the footwear to the person it belongs to either. “I will pay him the price of the sandals.” 

Recounting his conversation with the Congress leader, Mr Ram Chet said Mr Gandhi asked him about his work. “He asked me how shoes are pasted, I showed him and he did it.”

Mr Ram Chet lives in a makeshift hut that has no power supply. Officials have started making the rounds of his shanty since his photograph with Mr Gandhi circulated on social media. “People from the administration are now coming and asking me about my problems. They never came before.”

The cobbler’s run-down accommodation doesn’t have power supply. Asked how he will use the sewing machine in the dark, he told news agency PTI, “My son’s home has electricity supply. I will keep the machine at his place and do the sewing work.”

Raghuram, the cobbler’s son, told ANI that they were delighted to meet the Congress leader. “He treated us with respect and dignity. He asked me why I am not in this profession anymore. I told him that when I worked as a cobbler, people did not respect me. So I left the profession. I work as a labourer now,” he said.

New Delhi:

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit landslides-hit Wayanad on Thursday and meet several families affected by the natural calamity, sources said.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were scheduled to visit Wayanad Wednesday morning but they put off the visit as authorities informed them that they would not be able to land due to incessant rain and adverse weather conditions.

Congress sources said the two leaders would visit relief camps at the Government Higher Secondary School and St Joseph UP School, Meppadi. They would also visit Dr Moopen’s Medical College, Meppadi.

The devastating series of landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district has claimed at least 132 lives and injured over 200, with the toll expected to rise as rescuers search through the debris, official sources said.

More than 180 people are missing and over 300 houses were completely destroyed in the landslides that hit the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of the district, they said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday sent a shoe stitching machine to the cobbler he had met the previous day in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

“Yesterday, our leader Rahul Gandhi met cobbler Ram Chait in Sultanpur (UP) and learned about the details of his work. To support him, Rahul Gandhi has sent a shoe-stitching machine, which will ease his work. This gesture exemplifies Rahul Gandhi’s dedication as a leader for the people, truly a leader for everyone,” Congress wrote on X.

जननायक राहुल गांधी जी कल सुल्तानपुर (UP) में मोची रामचैत जी से मिले थे, उनके काम की बारीकियों को समझा था।

अब उनके लिए जूते सिलने की मशीन भिजवाई है, जिससे रामचैत जी को जूते की सिलाई में आसानी होगी।

ऐसे हैं आपके राहुल, जन-जन के राहुल pic.twitter.com/wEQNMneZdB

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 27, 2024

The cobbler Chait Ram received a phone call in the morning notifying him that Rahul Gandhi had sent a shoe-stitching machine for him.

In the afternoon, members of Rahul Gandhi’s team arrived at the cobbler’s workshop in a police jeep to deliver the machine.

Overjoyed, Chait Ram sent two pairs of shoes to Rahul Gandhi as a gesture of thanks, according to media reports. Additionally, some experts from the team provided Chait Ram with a briefing on how to operate the machine.

On Friday, Rahul Gandhi engaged with the cobbler in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, as part of his visit related to a defamation case. The Congress MP, who was there for legal proceedings, took the opportunity to learn about the cobbler’s trade and skills.

Ram Chait, has been making footwear for over 40 years from his makeshift shop. A video of their interaction circulated online, earning praise from netizens for Rahul Gandhi’s thoughtful gesture.

This visit follows another similar event on May 15, when Rahul Gandhi visited a barber shop in Raebareli for a haircut and beard trim, inquiring about the latest haircut trends.

Last September ,Rahul Gandhi made headlines for his unannounced visit to the Anand Vihar Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in New Delhi, where he donned a coolie uniform and carried luggage on his head.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)