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UP elections: Rahul Gandhi visits Ayodhya, a first from the family since Babri demolition

Gandhi first offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple which is located 1 km away from the disputed Babri Masjid site

Written by : TNM Staff

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reached the temple town of Ayodhya on Friday, the fifth day of 'Kisan Mahayatra' launched for the party’s 2017 UP election campaign.

The significance of the visit lies in the fact that it is the first time someone of the Gandhi-Nehru family is visiting Ayodhya since the demolition of Babri Masjid.

According to reports, Gandhi first offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple which is located 1 km away from the disputed Babri Masjid site. However, the leader is not likely to visit the controversial spot, according to party insiders.  

He is also set to meet Mahant Gyan Das, a prominent anti-VHP/ RSS figure later during his stay. He is scheduled to reach the Samajwadi Party bastion of Azamgarh on the wee hours of Saturday.

“Rahul Gandhi will visit Hanuman Garhi temple for ‘darshan’ at 10 am and meet Mahant Gyan Das. There is no other programme or meeting with anybody else,” Ram Das Verma, president of District Congress Committee, Faizabad told Hindustan Times.

He is also expected to visit Kichaucha Sharif Dargah in neighbouring Ambedkar Nagar district before the day ends.

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