Rahul Gandhi visits Ayodhya, a first by Nehru-Gandhi member since '92

LUCKNOW: Congress vice-resident Rahul Gandhi offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya, the first time a member of the Gandhi family visited the temple town since the Babri Masjid demolition happened in 1992.

Gandhi, however, kept away from the Ram Janambhoomi makeshift temple at the disputed site, which is about a kilometre away from Hanuman Garhi. Gandhi also met the chief priest of Hanuman Garhi temple Mahant Gyan Das and held a closed door meeting with him for 15 minutes.

"He had come for blessings and we will pray for his welfare. We met all kinds of people and leaders". He said there was nothing political about Gandhi's visit and added that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was the best among the lot of leaders, who had done the maximum development work in Ayodhya.

Rahul Gandhi visit to Ayodhya aroused much interest as it was seen an effort to reach out to the majority community, especially the upper castes.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had also planned to visit the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi during her roadshow but later could not as she took seriously ill. Congress leaders said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had planned to visit Hanuman Garhi in 1990 but could not and was assassinated a year later.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi campaigned in Ayodhya's twin city Faizabad but did not visit Ayodhya and Rahul's visit to the city was the first since the Babri Masjid was demolished. After the temple visit Gandhi continued his roadshow from Faizabad and later in the day also paid a visit to Kichaucha Sharif Dargah in Ambedkar Nagar district.

Gandhi kept up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also slammed the government for implementation of surge pricing in railways which affected the common man.