Rahul Gandhi braves heavy rain on Day 7 of Bharat Jodo Yatra

At Chempakamangalam town, Rahul Gandhi preferred to have breakfast at a tea shop run by one Mubarak. It was a big surprise for the shop owner and those having their morning tea.

When the people there informed him about the desire of resident octogenarian Sukumariyamma to see him, he visited her home.

He also paid floral tributes to N Kumaran Asan, Kerala’s celebrated poet and social reformer, by visiting his memorial at Thonnakkal.

On Tuesday, the first leg of the yatra ended at a convention hall in Attingal town, where former Kerala home minister and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala taught some yoga techniques to the team members to minimise body pain and fatigue during the trip.

In the afternoon, Rahul Gandhi interacted with local beneficiaries of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He explained to them the benefits of the Nyay project — the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (minimum income scheme), a social welfare programme proposed by the Congress in its 2019 general election manifesto.

The interaction It was followed by a meeting with representatives of the state-level action council against the state’s LDF government’s controversial multi-crore Silverline Semi-High Speed Railway Project.

The protestors told Rahul that the project was disastrous for the environment and their livelihood. They also apprised him of the social and environmental impacts of the project.

National-level Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Jairam Ramesh addressed the public meeting held at the Kallambalam town in the evening, marking the culmination of the yatra in the Thiruvananthapuram district.

On Wednesday morning, the yatra will enter the Kollam district.