HYDERABAD: Cheered by a mammoth crowd of supporters who were shouting slogans and waving flags, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi entered Telangana in Gudeballur, Narayanpet district after crossing the bridge over Krishna river along with his fellow-yatris from Yermarus in Raichur.
Karnataka Congress president D.K. Shivakumar handed over the party flag to TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy, formally marking the yatra entering the state. Reddy then walked along with Rahul Gandhi as he entered the first village in Telangana.
He was welcomed by AICC (TS) in-charge Manickam Tagore, Revanth Reddy, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and MP N. Uttam Kumar Reddy. Legislator D. Sridhar Babu accompanied Gandhi from Karnataka.
Meanwhile, the cultural committee of PCC, which assembled a group of folk artists, provided a glimpse of Telangana’s rich cultural heritage.
Speaking briefly, Gandhi said the yatra was intended to propagate harmony, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence.
He alleged that “two Indias” exist today — one that belongs to a select few elite, and the other that belongs to millions of youth, farmers, workers and petty businessmen.
Later, Revanth Reddy tweeted "As the rays of the rising sun touch the ground...the sun of the Congress stepped on our soil. A ray of hope to fulfill Telangana's aspirations. I welcome our Charismatic and inspiring leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on behalf of Telangana (sic)."
Uttam Kumar Reddy described his entry into Telangana as ‘historic’. He tweeted “Heartwarming, historic & a huge spontaneous response to #MyLeaderRahul’s Padayatra as it entered Telangana from Karnataka by crossing over the Krishna river. Rahul ji’s 13 day Padayatra here will be a landmark event etched in the annals of Telangana’s history (sic).”
Bhatti described the five-km walk along with Rahul Gandhi as once in a lifetime experience and found himself enthusiastic.
Meanwhile, Jairam Ramesh, AICC general secretary in-charge communications tweeted "It was thrilling to walk over the bridge on Krishna connecting Raichur in Karnataka and Mahabubnagar in Telangana...(sic)."
