Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Rayagada cancelled
Rayagada, (Dr Badal Tah): Prior to visit of Rahul Gandhi to Rayagada, leaders of Congress through a press conference in Hotel Tejaswi International at Rayagada declared that there would be a congregation of around one lakh people. In this meeting, named as Justice Guarantee Convention, Rahul will boost the morale of the party workers and leaders. He was supposed to reach by 12 o’ clock on last Friday and speak for at least one & half hours on the guarantees to be provided by his party if voted to power. But around 9 AM, people came to know that Rahul was not coming as he had to file nomination as MP from Rae Bareli constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
There was a grand arrangement in the ground near GIACR engineering college in Barijhola village, 3 kms away from the district headquarters. In the absence of Rahul, “some other senior leaders will come to the venue” was murmured by the congress heavyweights present at the venue; but no one could confirm who was going to come. Gloom reigned in the spot among the congress activists, who started coming from different nooks and corners of the district. As the message of Rahul not coming spread like wildfire, the people got disheartened. Amidst uncertainties, many heartbroken congress party workers returned home. Nevertheless the stage was adorned by Deputy CM of Telengana Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, State-in-Charge Ajay Kumar, Senior leader & Ex-Minister Prasad Harichandan, MP Saptagiri Ulaka, MLAs Appalaswamy Kadraka, Satyajit Gomango, Nilamadhab Hikaka, Durga Panda, General Secretary, OPCC. The meet culminated after Rahul Gandhi had virtually addressed the gathering.
“Koraput is the traditional base of Congress and the present MP is the lone Congress MP from Odisha. It may be remembered that, Rajiv Gandhi, officiating as Prime Minister of India, came to the drought & hunger hit Kashipur block of Rayagada district during eighties and saw people still consuming mango kernels and tamarind seeds. After his visit, GOI initiated a mega programme in collaboration with International Fund for Agriculture Development(IFAD) of the Food & Agriculture Organistion(FAO) at Rome, an UN agency. While there was sheer resistance against mining at Niyamagiri hills, Rahul Gandhi visited the then tribal activists and stood with their cause. It is because of his intervention also, VEDANTA, a giant corporate is not able to extract Bauxite ores from Niyamagiri till now. His visit would have complemented the cause of Rayagada people in general and tribals in particular. Revant Reddy, Telengana CM will definitely come to Rayagada on 8th May, which will be boon for tribal people and Telugu population of the district”, said Duraga Prasad Panda, General Secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee(PCC), Odisha.
