BANPURVA (AMETHI), MAY 17 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi again spent time with the Dalits at Banpurva village, which falls in his Amethi constituency, and shared food with the members of Self Help Groups (SHG) on Friday night.

Rahul reached the village at around 12 midnight and gave a pep talk to the women for about two hours. He also taught them how to force the state Government to ensure their rights guaranteed under the UPA’s dream project, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act .

Following his earlier visits to Dalit houses in Amethi and Etawah, BSP chief Mayawati had alleged that he was in the habit of using “special soap” for bathing after visiting Dalits.

Undeterred, however, Rahul did not stay at anyone’s house this time but ensured his presence at the meeting of the SHGs for more than two hours. About 60 women, mostly Scheduled Castes, were present at the meeting. “We were taken aback by Rahul bhaiyya’s sudden appearance at the meeting. He stayed with us for about two hours,” said Lakhpati, a woman.

The Congress leader is learnt to have shared with women their experiences after their association with SHGs. He also tried to know the problems they faced. The women told him that the village had neither proper drinking water nor had it any health facilities.