Hitting back to the statement of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s village stay issue, AICC member B L Shankar has stated that the former CM’s village stay programmes were just publicity gimmicks where as Mr Gandhi’s is an honest effort to understand the grassroot level reality.
Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, he said there was a lot of difference between the village stays of the former CM and Mr Rahul Gandhi. “Everything had been pre-planned and prepared for the village stays of the former CM, where he used to get each and every facility. But Mr Gandhi’s visits are totally unplanned and natural,” he justified.
Mr HDK on Monday had stated that Mr Gandhi was copying his concept. However, without mentioning his name, Mr Shankar said it was a “frustrated criticism”.
Turning a little philosophical, he said learning was a life long process and Mr Gandhi was also on his effort to gather experience, who might have to bear “greater responsibilities of the nation” in the future days. One should appreciate such endeavours in a democratic set-up instead of criticising, he observed.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Manjunath Bhandary, Secretary Mohammed Badruddin, District Youth Congress President Bondala Jagannath Shetty were present in the press meet.
Elaborating on the various programmes involved in Mr Gandhi’s Mangalore visit in another press meet, District Congress head B Ramanath Rai said that the All India Congress Committee General Secretary would reach the city in a helicopter if good climate prevailed, otherwise he would use a flight.
What, where, when...
Of late, the organisers have confirmed the venues of the three separate programmes of Mr Rahul Gandhi in Mangalore on March 26. The proposed public rally has been cancelled due to climatic reasons, while one more programme has been added to the schedule:
*Interaction with students: Dr T M A Pai International Convention Centre; 11 am-12 noon.
*Meeting with fishermen: Urwa Church Hall; 12 noon-1 pm.
*Visit to St Agnes Special School: Bendoor; 2.30 pm-3 pm.
*Interaction with party workers: Town Hall; 3.20 pm-4.15 pm.
