Azamgarh, Jul 22: On the second day of his visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today paid an unscheduled visit to Niwada village in Mubarakpur area of the district and met members of the weaver community. He was on his way to Ballia from Mau when he made the unscheduled halt and participated in a ‘chaupal' or villagers' meeting.
The area, famous for its ‘Banarasi' sarees, is home to weavers who have been involved in the occupation of weaving the traditional Indian garment for generations. Gandhi held discussions with the villagers and their families about the problems faced by them. He also visited a few houses and talked to women.
The Congress leader is on a two-day visit to eastern UP to widen the party's base among youths and to galvanise people's support for the state Assembly elections to be held early next year.
He had yesterday visited Gorakhpur and Mau districts where he held meetings with the youth. He spent the night at the guest house of the National Agriculture Research Centre in Mau.
After his Kisan Sandesh Yatra in western UP earlier this month where he undertook foot march from villages in Gautam Buddha Nagar to Aligarh, this is his second mass contact programme in the state.After staying for about an hour in the village, Gandhi left for Ballia district. He is also scheduled to visit Varanasi. PTI
