Rahul Gandhi Meets Cousin Varun Gandhi In Kedarnath: Report

The meeting between the cousins, who are rarely seen together in public, triggered speculation in some quarters over Varun Gandhi's political future.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets his cousin, BJP MP Varun Gandhi

Source : PTI/X@varungandhi80

New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his cousin Varun Gandhi, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, had a brief meeting at the Kedarnath temple on Tuesday where both had gone to offer prayers, sources said.

The meeting between the cousins, who are rarely seen together in public, triggered speculation in some quarters over Varun Gandhi's political future.

Varun Gandhi, the son of Sanjay and Maneka Gandhi, has not been seen at key BJP meets in recent months and his comments on crucial issues, including those on the now-repealed farm laws, have sometimes been at variance with the party's stand.

Sources told PTI that the Gandhis met briefly outside the revered shrine and exchanged pleasantries. They said the meeting was "very short" and "warm one".

Rahul Gandhi was "very happy" to meet Varun's daughter, they said, adding though the two cousins do not meet, they have maintained "good and civil" ties.

The sources also said that nothing political was discussed at the meeting.

During a press conference last year, when asked whether Varun Gandhi would be welcome in the Congress, Rahul Gandhi said though anybody was welcome, Varun has "adopted the ideology of the BJP/RSS" against which the Congress was fighting.

Rahul Gandhi's 'Personal' Visit To Kedarnath 

Rahul Gandhi has been at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand for the last three days, while Varun Gandhi visited the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva along with his family on Tuesday.

The Congress leader also visited the 'Bheem Shila' behind the Kedarnath temple. The huge rock is believed to have rolled down the mountains during the June 2013 Uttarakhand floods. It is also believed that it protected the temple from the disaster.

Gandhi arrived in Uttarakhand on Sunday and offered prayers at the Kedarnath temple. He participated in the evening 'aarti' at the temple and offered tea to pilgrims as part of 'chai seva'.

He is staying at Kabra Niketan in Rajasthan Bhawan near the temple.

According to PCC functionaries, Gandhi is on a "personal" and spiritual visit, during which no party leader is allowed to meet him. PTI SKC SKC NSD NSD

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