Date with Rahul and family: Sultanpur cobbler travels to Delhi to meet the Gandhis

Sultanpur (UP): In July last year, Rahul Gandhi stopped by at his shop and even learnt to make shoes from him. Eight months later, the Congress leader returned the hospitality by inviting Ramchet to his home where the cobbler by profession also met Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

And, of course, it was an all arranged for trip, including his family's tickets from Sultanpur to Delhi and back as well as food and accommodation, an overwhelmed Ramchet said. He had been asking for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi for months and it finally happened on February 13, he said.

Ramchet was greeted by a car which took them to Rahul Gandhi's residence when he reached Delhi.

"Rahul Gandhi welcomed me with a hug and Priyanka Gandhi was also present. After some time, Sonia Gandhi joined us," he told PTI.

The meeting lasted over an hour.

The 60-year-old was accompanied by his son, elder grandson, daughter and son-in-law. The former Congress president, who has helped Ramchet expand his business, also had some advice for the family.

"Rahul Gandhi told my son that he should aim for progress. He offered to train him in Delhi to make high-quality shoes and slippers so he can create and send them abroad," Ramchet said.

"He inquired about my business and skills for more than an hour. I presented two pairs of slippers — one for Rahul Gandhi and one each for Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi — and received their blessings," he said.

The day they first met is etched sharply in his mind.

It was July 26, 2024.

"Rahul ji had come to my shop while travelling to Lucknow. He even learned how to stitch shoes from me. Later, he sent me a modern sewing machine and materials to make shoes and slippers," he said.

Expressing delight at having two shops now, Ramchet, who has been the focus of much attention since the visit, attributed much of his success to the encouragement and support he has received from the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.

"Rahul Gandhi praised the cobbler community for its skills and knowledge, which, unfortunately, does not get enough respect in society. Priyanka Gandhi also remarked that the most expensive shoes are handmade," he said.

Rahul Gandhi has promised to help Ramchet in improving his skills further.

"Your skills need some polishing and I will help you with that," the former Congress president said.

Rahul Gandhi also arranged train tickets for Ramchet and his family to return to Sultanpur on February 15.

Overwhelmed by his brief visit to Delhi, Ramchet recalled that Congress leaders had offered him large sums of money to buy the shoes that Rahul Gandhi had stitched back in July. However, he steadfastly refused to part with them.

The Congress leader had made the unscheduled surprise visit to Ramchet's shop in Vidhayak Nagar on the outskirts of Sultanpur on his way back to Lucknow from Sultanpur after appearing in a district court in connection with a defamation case.