Amethi: Rahul Gandhi, who is making his electoral debut from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, today (Apr 9, 2004) formally kicked off his poll campaign terming raking up of the Bofors issue afresh as a political conspiracy.

The issue, however, had become irrelevant after the court verdict, he told reporters in Amethi.

"Now, I have stepped out in the electoral field, some people have started shouting Bofors," Rahul, wearing his trademark white kurta pyjama, said.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...

"The issue is now a closed chapter after the court has absolved former Premier Rajiv Gandhi of all the charges but some people are bent upon making it an election issue to gain political capital which is quite unfair," he said.

Asked whether the cropping up of Bofors issue at this stage could be a political conspiracy, Rahul said, "ye political hai (this is political). Athara saal se kya sajish hai, aap batayiye, hame tho nahin maloom (For 18 years, what conspiracy is this, you tell us. We don't know)."

Riding on a jeep, the young Gandhi, accompanied by senior Congress leader Capt Satish Sharma, visited a dozen villages talking freely to people and promising to solve their problems.