Rahul Gandhi spends night in village

Bhopal, Apr 16: Unfazed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's calling his love for Dalits a 'mere hoax' Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi spent Tuesday night in a tribal's hut sleeping on a cot and eating dry plums at drought-affected Baldevgarh Block's Taprian village, 30 km from Tikamgarh district town.

Gandhi along with Uttar Pradesh Congress President Rita Bahuguna and a Self Help Group worker reached the village around midnight with Special Protection Group security cover. After visiting the dwelling of a tribal named Ghanshyam and listening to his problems, Gandhi took shelter in Rama's hut where the tribal host offered him a sack to sit and dry plums to eat. Later, Rama offered him food and water in earthenware. The Congress General Secretary listened to the tribal family's woes till 2.00 am and then slept on a cot.

Talking to media persons after Gandhi left the village, the tribals said the Congress leader had inquired about the drought situation, implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), migration of labourers and the functioning of local administration. Gandhi reached a hotel in the town straight from the village at 6.30 am on Wednesday to hold a meeting with Congress workers, where he discussed matters like party unity, employment, drought and other problems.

According to party sources, local party leaders complained to him about inadequate representation to women and Scheduled Castes in the revamped Pradesh Congress Committee, on which Gandhi assured to take proper action.  Gandhi on Wednesday mourned the death of six members of a family, who were allegedly killed at Ginau hills in Tikamgarh district's Jatara village. On his way to Chhatarpur district, Gandhi stopped his vehicle at the spot to condole the 'mysterious' death of four children and their parents, residents of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, about one and a half month ago. No arrest has been made so far in this connection, the sources added.