2,000 Km Of Rahul Gandhi's Kisan Yatra, Strung By A Single Note

Lucknow: With its arrival in Lucknow, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's Kisan Yatra, a campaign to drum up support in the hinterlands ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections next year, has finished its Phase 1.

A carpet of flowers welcomed the 46-year-old as he entered Uttar Pradesh's capital on the 16th day, covering more than 2,000 km, 500 public meetings, 17 'khaat sabhas' and 12 mega road shows.

After addressing two small gatherings, the real action began from central Lucknow's Parivartan Chowk, as his 6 kilometre roadshow started and then went through the Muslim-dominated old Lucknow on Friday. It drew large crowds at some places but moderate one at others.

After days of his yatra in rural or semi-urban areas, where waiving off farmer loans and targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi were the main issues, there was no change in Rahul Gandhi's script even in urban Lucknow.

"We want that farmer loans should be waived off that's why we are doing this yatra. Have you ever seen Modi shaking hands with a farmer," Mr Gandhi said at various meetings where he spoke briefly.

The Congress leader will now take a two day-break and then start heading towards the western part of the state.

But on the streets of Lucknow, young people like 21-year-old-food delivery entrepreneur Bilal Akhtar, a Rahul Gandhi supporter, listed other issues for the Congress's priority.

"You see for people like us there are lots of problems. There is no ease of doing business. Also this is the capital city but there is no electricity," said Mr Akhtar.

But Rahul Gandhi's constant and almost monotonous messaging to farmers during his yatra found support from 55-year-old Sohan Lal, a farmer on the outskirts of Lucknow, who came all the way to hear him.

"If farmer loans are waived off, then it will benefit us. So he is doing just the right thing," said Mr Lal, who owns three bighas of land.