Thaindian News

Amethi, Sep 1 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by telecom expert Sam Pitroda, Wednesday relished roadside food here while seeking public feedback on central government-backed welfare schemes, an Uttar Pradesh party leader said.

“While Rahulji and Sam Pitroda were on their way to Jagdishpur to attend a function, they stopped at a roadside eating joint and had spicy `samosas’ and sweet `jalebis’,” state Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh told reporters here.

“While relishing ’samosas’ and ‘jalebis’, Rahulji and Pitroda both inquired about the development in Amethi (a parliamentary constituency represented by Gandhi) from the locals,” he said.

“Rahulji also asked the owner of the eating joint, Santosh Kumar, about the progress of central government-sponsored schemes,” he added.

As Gandhi and Pitroda enjoyed the roadside food, several curious onlookers gathered near the joint and the security personnel tried to manage the situation.

“As the two were about to leave the eating joint, Kumar served a special ‘chai’ (tea) to them. Though Kumar was not initially ready to take money from Rahulji for the food and the tea, he agreed after repeated requests by Rahulji,” said Singh.

Gandhi accompanied by Pitroda, who is currently advisor to the prime minister on public information infrastructure and innovations, is on a three-day tour of his parliamentary constituency, a party spokesperson said.

“Rahulji during his three-day tour is also expected to visit a number of villages in order to evaluate public welfare schemes sponsored by the state government. He would also meet party workers and attend a number of social programmes in Amethi,” he added.

Amethi is about 120 km from Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh capital.