Bijapur: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, on a tour of Karnataka, was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival near the Alamatti Dam site.

Gandhi, who arrived here last night, was cheered by thousands of waiting people with slogans of "Rajiv Gandhi zindabad". He was welcomed with a traditional "aarti" by the Lambani tribal women.

Accompanied by District Congress President Sharanappa Sunagar, MLC Prakash Rathod and other leaders, Gandhi drove to a primary school campus where again a huge crowd greeted him.

After a patient hearing to people's problems, he also received a memorandum from them. On his way to Hullur Thanda near Muddebihal, he met the locals and enquired about their traditions. To get a taste of the local flavour, Rahul had his dinner at the Thanda.

Rathod appealed to Gandhi to prevail upon the Union Government to extend Schedule Tribe status for the Lambani community in all states.
Source : PTI