Published On : Mon, Sep 23rd, 2013

Surabardi Meadows spruced up for Rahul Gandhi’s visit on Tuesday; Leaders on toes

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Nagpur News.

Last minute preparations were going on at the plush wide resort at Surabardi for according a grand welcome to AICC Vice-president Rahul Gandhi who is scheduled to head towards the venue soon after landing Nagpur on September 24. Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the region is the clear indicative of poll exercise aiming at strengthening the party’s roots at the remote level.

Driving towards finishing line  A fleet of vehicles carrying out dress rehearsal on Monday at Surabardi Meadows ahead of AICC Vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s visit on September 24.

Driving towards finishing line
A fleet of vehicles carrying out dress rehearsal on Monday at Surabardi Meadows ahead of AICC Vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s visit on September 24.

However, the austerity drive at national level appeared to have negligible impact on the lavish level of event being organized here for Rahul. The leaders in Nagpur apparently left no stone unturned to make the place a perfect haven for the leader of Rahul’s stature. The leaders have splurged lavishly on the spruce up and the food to be served on Rahul’s visit.

Seeking greener pastures  Lush green lawn at Surabardi Meadows.

Seeking greener pastures
Lush green lawn at Surabardi Meadows.

The fleet of vehicles took to the dress rehearsal on Monday while the green lawns were leveled to strike that extravagant look at the venue. The venue name Surabardi Meadows is owned by a businessman Mohan Agrawal. A whopping amount has been charged for a daylong event at Suraburdi Meadows.

Moghe-Thakre in heated exchange over expense

A glimpse of the venue was enough to gauge the enormous amount of spent done on the visit. So much was the talk about the ‘lavish way’ of linking to grass root level that two senior Congress leaders were caught in heated exchange over the issue. The expenditure became the differentiating issue between the MPCC President Manikrao Thakre and Guardian Minister Shivajirao Moghe. It was evident as Moghe consciously remained absent from the press conference held by Thakre to detail out Rahul Gandhi’s day-long programme.

Moghe sidelined Thakre’s suggestions over funds for programme

According to sources, the MPCC President went to meet the Guardian Minister Shivajirao Moghe at his Ravi Bhavan cottage on September 20. Thakre raised the issue of expenses and the arrangement of funds for the high-profile programme. Moghe suggested Thakre that the MPCC should arrange the funds for the programme. The finger raised by Moghe did not go down well with Thakre who was enraged over Moghe’s remarks. Thakre was trying to drive home the point that since the programme was being held in Nagpur, the Guardian Minister Moghe should come forward and arrange the funds, the sources said. However Moghe was reluctant to buy Thakre’s explanation and the differences cropped up.

Whose programme is it?

The “money issue” triggered an exchange of heated words with Moghe telling Thakre that since the programme has been arranged by the Pradesh Congress, the MPCC should bear the expenses for the programme. With these words, Moghe left for airport leaving behind an enraged and snubbed MPCC President Manikrao Thakre, the sources said.

No less than White House A wide view of Surabardi Meadows, where Rahul Gandhi would address the party workers on Tuesday.

No less than White House
A wide view of Surabardi Meadows, where Rahul Gandhi would address the party workers on Tuesday.