On September 9, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, convened a Janata Darbar in his home constituency of Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, to listen to a range of local grievances.
During the interaction, a resident highlighted the deteriorating condition of Lucknow Road that leads to the ITI campus. The stretch, which links the Rae Bareli‑Lucknow Highway with the Sultanpur Highway, is riddled with large potholes despite the presence of institutions such as NIFT and ITI, and a heavily visited temple nearby. The complainant said two ceremonies of bhoomi pujan had been performed for the road, yet construction has not begun. Gandhi assured that the issue would be taken up promptly.
A local woman urged the opposition leader to make regular tours of the town so that citizens could discuss basic civic problems directly with him. He reiterated his commitment to follow up on the concerns raised.
Representatives of the Samajwadi Party were also present. Akhilesh Mahi, State Secretary of the Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade, appealed for the erection of a memorial and public square honoring Rajendra Yadav, a Rae Bareli martyr of the 1999 Kargil War. Mahi noted that no statue or memorial exists for Yadav and asked Gandhi to facilitate the project, adding that Gandhi's support could pose a strong challenge to the BJP in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The Mahila Congress delegation, led by Shailaja Singh, District President, welcomed Gandhi and praised his advocacy for youth. Anil Mishra, President of the Freedom Fighters' Descendants Organisation, submitted a memorandum demanding preservation of the state's freedom fighters' legacy and the swift completion of beautification work at the Munshiganj Martyrs' Memorial.
Jyoti Behan of the Brahma Kumaris tied a rakhi on Gandhi's wrist, conveying best wishes for the district's progress. The following night, Gandhi met bullion traders who reported a near 50 per cent drop in gold and silver sales, attributing the slump to higher GST. He promised to raise the tax issue in Parliament. On the final day of his visit, Gandhi discussed additional development matters with local officials.
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đź“° Source: Daijiworld