Congress President Rahul Gandhi went skiing in Gulmarg, north Kashmir on Wednesday, as part of a two-day personal visit to the valley. Gandhi, who ended his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar two weeks ago, paused for a brief moment in Tangmarg town while on his route to Gulmarg skiing resort, 52 kilometres from Srinagar.
The former Congress president declined to answer media queries. "Namaskar" was all he said when he was asked to comment, news agency PTI reported.
Gandhi went skiing in Affarwat after riding the famed Gondola Cable Car in Gulmarg.
Before heading downhill, the Congress leader posed for photographs with a group of delighted tourists, giving his security guys a hard time.
As he glided down the magnificent mountains of Gulmarg, Gandhi was followed by police officers on skis, according to the report.
"We are lucky to have met Shri Rahul Gandhi," said one of the visitors who met the Congress leader, PTI reported.
Another tourist remarked Gandhi deserved to enjoy his trip "after undertaking the monumental Bharat Jodo Yatra".
According to sources in the Pradesh Congress Committee, Gandhi is on a personal visit and would likely attend a private celebration in the valley, as stated in the report.
The details of his programme were not revealed by the sources, the report said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Union Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah spoke about the possibility of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi becoming the prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections following his Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying it would be known after the upcoming three Assembly elections.
In an interview with the news agency ANI, which aired on Tuesday (February 14, 2023), Shah stated that the impact of Rahul Gandhi's 145-day foot march from Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar will be seen after the elections in Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya this month.
(With Inputs From Agencies)