Date:07/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/07/stories/2008030757730100.htm

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All set for Rahul Gandhi’s visit

Prafulla Das

Interaction with youth and tribals to be the highlight

KALAHANDI: All-India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi is all set to begin his Discovery of the India journey on Friday from the poverty-stricken Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput region of the State.

Party leaders and workers in the region are excited over Mr. Gandhi’s visit.

Hectic schedule

They are optimistic that it would create a great impact in the KBK region that his grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi had visited as Prime Minister.

According to Congress sources, the young Congress leader would attend as many as 13 programmes during his four-day visit to the State. Interaction with the youth and tribals would be the major highlight of Mr. Gandhi’s visit.

Mr. Gandhi’s visit has been planned to ensure that he visits almost all the regions of the State, especially the tribal-dominated and backward areas. Many districts that Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to visit are also affected by the naxal menace.

On the first day, Mr. Gandhi would visit some watershed projects in the Sinapali area in neighbouring Nuapada district, which was part of Kalahandi in the past. He would later address a rally in the district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna.

At the Bhawanipatna rally, Mr. Gandhi is likely to speak about the achievements of the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre, and ‘the failures’ of the Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party in the State in addressing the issues concerning the tribals and farmers, party sources said.

Mr. Gandhi is also likely to speak about the Forest Dwellers Act and how it is going to benefit the vast tribal population in the State.

During his visit to different areas in the State Mr. Gandhi would focus on specific issues relating to the problems facing the farmers, tribals and the weaker sections of society, according to Union Minister and party’s Orissa in-charge Ajay Maken.

While Mr. Gandhi would hop from one place to another by helicopter, State Congress leaders have been allocated specific responsibilities to make his visit a success.

There would be no roadshows in the programme, primarily due to security reasons.