The Hindu : Karnataka News : Rahul holds out hope to many

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Rahul holds out hope to many

Staff Correspondent

CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE: AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi interacting with members of a Stree Shakti Group at Belur village in Bagalkot district on Thursday.

BELUR (BAGALKOT DISTRICT): Weavers, self-help group members, anganwadi teachers and farmers poured out their woes before Congress MP Rahul Gandhi who began his two-day tour in Bagalkot and Bijapur districts on Thursday.

Of course, they sought relief from him. Though he did not give any assurance to any of their demands, he gave them a patient hearing. But it was enough for many to believe that the heir of the Nehru-Gandhi clan would do something for their uplift. He was to enter Bagalkot district at 1.30 p.m. here but he was two-and-half hours behind schedule. Members of Bhagyalakshmi Stree Shakti Sangha welcomed him with the traditional “aarati” and roses. They said their sanghas be given loan facilities at an interest rate of 4 per cent.

Anganwadi teachers, who had a long charter of demands, said their honorarium be enhanced on par with school teachers, and they be given pension and other benefits.

Mr. Gandhi had an interaction with farmers and others at the Kalidas College in Badami town. Farmers’ representatives said that not many would benefit from the loan waiver announced by the Union Government due to land holding ceiling of 2 hectares. The cap should be enhanced, they said.

Mr. Gandhi could not resist the temptation of visiting the historical cave temples of Badami, though it was not in his itinerary. As a result, his other programmes were further delayed by another two hours. It was 7 p.m. when he arrived at Konkanakoppa, where he visited some weaver families registered under the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, the former Union Minister, Siddu Nyamgouda, accompanied Mr. Rahul Gandhi.

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