Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 4 Jun: The proposed visit to Mussoorie by Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, fell victim to adverse weather conditions on Thursday. The last-minute cancellation of his Uttarakhand tour—necessitated by unfavourable weather—has caused deep disappointment among Congress workers and supporters. Senior Congress leaders, office-bearers, and workers who had gathered in Mussoorie to welcome Rahul Gandhi have also gradually begun their return journeys.
There was tremendous enthusiasm among Congress workers throughout the entire Uttarakhand region, including Mussoorie, regarding Rahul Gandhi’s visit. Posters, banners, and welcome hoardings had been put up at prominent locations across the town. Congress workers had been engaged in preparations for his arrival since early morning, but the sudden deterioration of the weather forced the cancellation of all scheduled events.
Sushant Mishra, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), stated that a two-day visit to Uttarakhand had been planned for Rahul Gandhi. During this tour, his itinerary included meeting with people and interacting with party workers across various regions of the Garhwal division, ranging from Pauri onwards. Mishra explained that while Rahul Gandhi had reached Pantnagar, the pilot refused to fly the helicopter any further due to poor weather conditions and flight safety concerns. Consequently, all scheduled events in Uttarakhand had to be cancelled.
Sushant Mishra acknowledged that while the cancellation of the visit has undoubtedly caused disappointment among the workers, the public’s enthusiasm and support for Rahul Gandhi remain undiminished. He expressed confidence that Rahul Gandhi would visit Uttarakhand again in the near future to engage directly with the party workers and the general public. Mishra added that Rahul Gandhi is continuously reaching out to the people across the country through various tours and public outreach campaigns. He noted that Rahul Gandhi consistently raises issues concerning the youth, farmers, women, and common citizens. This, he said, is the reason why a special sense of enthusiasm prevails among Congress workers regarding his programs.
Responding to a question regarding internal strife within the Uttarakhand Congress, Sushant Mishra asserted that the party is completely united and that there are absolutely no internal differences. He stated that discussions regarding factionalism within the Congress party are merely political rumors. All party leaders and workers are standing united on a common platform and are actively engaged in preparations for the upcoming assembly elections. He added that unprecedented enthusiasm is evident among Congress workers across the entire state. Extensive preparations had been undertaken in every region in anticipation of Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit. This clearly demonstrates that the people of the state desire change, and public confidence in the Congress party is steadily growing.
Sushant Mishra clarified that the upcoming assembly elections will not be contested based on a single face, but rather on the foundation of the Congress party’s ideology and collective leadership. He asserted that the Congress will enter the electoral fray relying on the strength of its organisational machinery and public support, moving forward with the objective of forming a government with an absolute majority.
Although Rahul Gandhi’s visit may have been postponed due to adverse weather conditions, the sheer enthusiasm displayed by workers and supporters regarding his arrival certainly offered a glimpse into the Congress party’s vitality and preparedness within the state.
