Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrives in Amethi on Monday. (Source: Twitter) Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrives in Amethi on Monday. (Source: Twitter)

After being bestowed the title of ‘Shiv Bhakt’ by the state Congress unit during his recent visit to Madhya Pradesh, party chief Rahul Gandhi was welcomed in his parliamentary constituency in Amethi on Monday by the Kanwaria Sangh with chants of ‘Bam Bam Bhole’. Several hoardings welcoming ‘Shiv Bhakt Rahul Gandhiji’ have come up in Amethi and highways – a move seen as Congress’ attempt to reach out to Hindu voters ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“It would be his first visit after coming back from Mansarovar Yatra, so certainly everyone has planned a grand welcome for him, especially at Fursatganj,” said Congress district president Yogendra Mishra.

Rahul was welcomed by Kanwaria Sangh in Amethi with saffron stole amid chants of ‘Bam Bam Bhole’. (Express photo) Rahul was welcomed by Kanwaria Sangh in Amethi with saffron stole amid chants of ‘Bam Bam Bhole’. (Express photo)

Meanwhile, the BJP attacked Gandhi over the title of ‘Shiv Bhakt’, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the same person who once invented the word ‘saffron terrorism’suddenly he has become a Shiv devotee. “Yeh wahi Rahul Gandhi hain jinhone shabd ‘saffron terrorism’ko gadha. Aaj achanak woh Shiv bhakt ban rahe hain,par janta ki aankh mein koi dhul nahi jhonk sakta aur unka fancy dress Hinduism bhi dekh rahi hai. (This is the same Rahul gandhi who invented the word saffron terrorism, suddenly today he has become a Shiv devotee. But, he cannot fool the common man and Hindusim is watching his fancy dresses).”

Addressing a gathering in his constituency, Gandhi charged country’s “chowkidar” Narendra Modi with snatching away money from the poor and handing it over to industrialist Anil Ambani. “The chowkidar of the country has taken out Rs 20,000 crore from the pockets of the poor, martyrs and the jawans and put it in the pocket of Ambani,” Gandhi said at a meeting in the Jais area of his constituency.

#WATCH: Congress President Rahul Gandhi says, "Set up JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) & the truth will come out. But Arun Jaitley's boss Narendra Modi can't do this work. Narendra Modi gives big speeches but never speaks a word on Rafale or Anil Ambani" pic.twitter.com/8ygJxJ5jnd — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 24, 2018

On his two-day visit to Amethi, which comes after his pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, Gandhi will address women of Self-Help Groups near Fursatganj, lay foundation stone of projects at Jias and then address a meeting with about 150 gram pradhans from different areas of the constituency.

Gandhi will make a night stay at a guest house at Musafirkhana and on Tuesday, he will participate in the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting before leaving for Delhi.

#WATCH Rahul Gandhi offers prayers to Lord Shiva in Amethi. He was also felicitated by ‘Kawariyas’ pic.twitter.com/XTpP9YEfqq — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 24, 2018

Rahul is also likely to participate in ‘prabhat pheri’, which will start on Tuesday, and culminate on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. Under this programme, party workers will visit villages to spread the message of peace and communal harmony.

Gandhi’s visit comes days after Union minister Smriti Irani made two trips to Amethi in the first week of this month, during which she criticised the Congress chief for alleged negligence of his constituency.

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