Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and others.
– Photo : amar ujala
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There was a time when big leaders used to shy away from even standing near leaders and workers with tainted image. There is a similar incident which probably happened for the first time in the district. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi got down from the jeep as soon as the MLA with Bahubali image got on board. After walking for about a kilometer he could be made to sit on the jeep again with great difficulty. This incident was discussed from the district to the state and across the country.
Before the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi took out the Sadbhavna Yatra. This yatra reached the district on 27 October 1990. The journey was to proceed from the airstrip to Nayaghat Saryu coast. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Lok Sabha candidate Nirmal Khatri and another big leader were traveling in an open jeep from the airstrip itself. Rajiv Gandhi, surrounded by thousands of supporters, was accepting greetings from people during the yatra. Meanwhile, Gorakhpur’s strong MLA Harishankar Tiwari also arrived in the yatra and boarded Rajiv Gandhi’s jeep from behind.
Former MP Dr. Nirmal Khatri tells that at that time Harishankar Tiwari was a Congress MLA, but seeing him climbing, Rajiv Gandhi slowly stopped the jeep and got down and started walking on foot. After he walked for some distance, other leaders including Harishankar Tiwari also realized the matter. When Harishankar Tiwari got down and started walking, Rajiv Gandhi again boarded the jeep. That journey, packed with supporters, lasted for about seven hours.
