Madurai, December 23: AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi paid homage at the memorial of Dalit leader and Veteran Freedom Fighter P Kakkan and interacted with the Dalits at Thumbaipatti Village, near here, last night.
His visit was kept secret by the security agencies, even as the Congress icon broke through the Special Profection Group (SPG) and local police cordon and walked on the streets in the Dalit-dominated village and interacted with the people, sending his SPG men into a tizzy.
Rahul drove straight to the village, the birth place of Kakkan, a veteran Congress leader who held ministerial posts in the State last night after interacting with the Youth Congress office-bearers in the city.
He was welcomed by the villagers with great enthusiasm. After paying homage, Rahul visited the house where Kakkan was born and asked for drinking water from V Azhagu, wife of Vellaichamy, who is Kakkan’s nephew.
Later, he went around the village, shook hands with the children and also met the close relatives of Kakkan.
After his visit, Mr Gandhi returned to Madurai City and went to Adi Dravida Students Hostel at Azhagarkovil Road and interacted with the students before going to the Government Guest House at 2240 hrs for an overnight stay.
–UNI