Rahul Meets Star Messi, Enjoys Game
Rahul Gandhi Meets Lionel Messi, Watches Match with Revanth Reddy
Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met football icon Lionel Messi and watched the football match with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at the Uppal stadium. The visit also provided an occasion for Revanth Reddy to brief Gandhi on the political situation in the state.
Gandhi reached the city by a special flight and landed at the Shamshabad airport, where he was received by Revanth Reddy, state Congress chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and D. Sridhar Babu.
Gandhi travelled in a same car with the Chief Minister and the TPCC chief to Falaknuma Palace. During the journey, sources said, the Chief Minister and Mahesh Kumar Goud briefed Gandhi on the party’s strong performance in the first phase of the gram panchayat elections. He was also apprised of the government’s initiatives and the party’s organisational performance in Telangana. Gandhi expressed satisfaction over both governance and party activities, sources added.
At Falaknuma Palace, Gandhi and Revanth Reddy participated in a “meet and greet” session with Messi. Thereafter, Gandhi and Revanth Reddy proceeded to the stadium.
After the conclusion of the match, Gandhi, Revanth Reddy and Messi took a parade at the stadium, acknowledging and waving to the cheering crowd in the stands. In the prize distribution ceremony, Messi presented the trophy to the winning team, while Gandhi handed over the cup to the participating team, drawing applause from the audience.
Gandhi later left for Delhi along with Revanth Reddy. The Chief Minister is scheduled to take part in the ‘Vote Chor–Gaddi Chhod’ maha rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday. The protest is aimed at highlighting what the Congress has described as large-scale “vote theft” and alleged manipulation of electoral processes by the BJP and the Election Commission.