Rahul drops plan to visit Jayaraj kin due to virus situation

Congress former president Rahul Gandhi was so shaken by the dad, son deaths allegedly due to police brutality and had insisted on visiting Thoothukudi to meet the family of the deceased in person.

Congress sources in the know told DT Next that Rahul had expressed his keenness to visit the family during his conversation with TNCC chief KS Alagiri over phone. However, difficulty in obtaining Centre’s clearance for operating a special flight for the visit and spurt in Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu had prompted him to drop the plan. “He had advised Alagiri to organise a candlelight vigil only after the planned visit did not materialize. He also instructed Alagiri to personally visit the family in person and help them financially,” said a party leader who did not wish to be named. The Congress gave a cheque for Rs 10 lakh to the family of the victims. However, inquiries revealed that the amount was paid by local party leader Urvashi Selvaraj’s son. “Neither the party trust office in Kamarajar Arangam is working nor the employees there are turning up for duty. A lot of formalities are involved in issuing a cheque from the trust. Hence, it was difficult to allot from the party trust. Amirtharaj (Urvashi Selvaraj’s son) had offered to pay the sum. But, the amount was given to the family on behalf of the state party unit,” said a senior leader close to Alagiri on condition of anonymity.

The leader also attributed the cancellation of the visit to sensitive developments up north. “Galwan clash and political anxiety surrounding Priyanka’s eviction had kept the leader engaged there,” a district Congress president said.