HYDERABAD: Billed as a private visit, Rahul Gandhi’s two-day study trip to Andhra Pradesh generated much interest though media and Congress party workers were mostly kept away from wherever he went.
Though meant to be a crash course in micro finance from rural self help groups (SHG)s of women in Medak and Nalgonda districts of the state, the young MP took time off to indulge in a bit of the famous biryani and other Hyderabadi delicacies.
Rahul surprised regulars and the staff at the Paradise Persis restaurant in the heart of the busy Paradise circle in Secundrabad on Friday night when he walked in unannounced and ordered biryani with his friends and SPG personnel.
Needless to say nobody was allowed anywhere near his table, waiters at the restaurant said. But then VVIPs and celebrities are no strangers at the famous Paradise biryani and chai joint. Painter M F Hussain is a regular whenever he is in town, while some old timers even recollect how B R Ambedkar hosted tea sessions at the 75 years old Paradise.
On his first visit to the state after becoming an MP, Rahul learned the nuances of microfinance from members of thrift groups in Bandasomaram village 25 kms from Bhongir town in Nalgonda district and Medchal in Rangareddy district on Friday.
On Saturday he made a trip to Toopran in Medak district from where his grandmother had contested for the Parliament, before returning to Delhi later in the evening. He made time for CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and had a very private lunch with him devoid of the usual political fanfare seen on such high profile visits.
Gandhi has been on a week-long tour of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to study the Panchayti Raj system and rural empowerment schemes and self-help groups (SHGs).
While the party circles were instructed to keep away from the leader’s trip, Secundrabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav and his son created a scene at the Begumpet airport on Friday when Rahul landed in the city. Police personnel tried to prevent him from meeting the young MP but the politician later managed to gatecrash.
