Shajapur/Ujjain (MP), Mar 5 (PTI) Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra witnessed a surprise encounter in Shajapur city and Ujjain of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday when BJP supporters cheered "Modi-Modi" as his convoy passed through the area and also when he visited the Mahakaleshwar temple.
The Congress leader halted the procession to engage with the chanting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, who also offered potatoes to him in a mocking gesture while he blew a kiss in response.
Later in the evening, Gandhi mentioned the incident during his address to a gathering, saying it was easy to face such incidents by opening "mohabbat ki dukan" (shop of love) in "nafrat ka bazaar" (market of hatred).
The yatra, which entered BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, encountered a group of BJP supporters led by corporator Mukesh Dubey, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi along the way.
Gandhi, upon spotting the group, paused the convoy to interact with them, exchanging greetings and handshakes as the BJP workers cheered "Jai Shri Ram".
Following the brief exchange, Gandhi returned to his vehicle, waving and blowing a kiss before continuing the journey.
Speaking to PTI later, BJP corporator Dubey mentioned Gandhi's gesture in response to their slogans, stating he welcomed the Congress leader and even presented potatoes to him.
"I told Gandhi that you are welcome," he said.
The yatra proceeded to Ujjain later in the day.
Addressing a gathering from his vehicle in Ujjain, Gandhi said, "Open a shop of love in the market of hatred. This is quite easy. It is not that difficult.
"Sometimes it happens during the yatra, like it happened today. Three-four people from BJP were standing with flags. They were shouting. I got down from the vehicle and shook hands and asked how are you brother? And they stopped shouting and started smiling and then when I was leaving, they were doing like this (making gesture of blowing kisses)." Later, when Gandhi offered prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain along with former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath and state Congress president Jitu Patwari, BJP supporters greeted him there too with the "Modi-Modi" chant.
Senior Congress leader Shobha Oza said, "Nothing is more shameful than making a temple the site of political slugfest. Had they chanted slogans in praise of Mahakal, it would have been better for everyone. May Lord Mahakal give better sense to these BJP workers." Oza also said that "Baba Mahakal" blessed Rahul Gandhi during his earlier Bharat Jodo Yatra as well as the ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
Kamal Nath said BJP workers were trying to create disturbance.
"Rahul ji prayed for the welfare of the country and the state, and I firmly believe that Lord Mahakal will grant his wishes," the Congress veteran said.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)