Cong to hold 4,000 chaupals on Rahul’s birthday

With a view to garner support of the rural masses,the Congress is planning to celebrate Rahul Gandhi’s birthday on Sunday by holding a ‘chaupal’ in every panchayat of the state to hear farmers’ grievances. “We will be celebrating Rahul’s birthday as Kisan Adhikar Diwas (Farmers’ Rights Day) and will be holding 4000 chaupals across the state in which farmers’ grievances will be heard,” a party official said here. The issue of land acquisition would be part of the discussions,the official said.

Former minister dead

Former state minister and four-time legislator from Firozabad,Raghuwar Dayal Verma,died here today following a cardiac arrest. The 85-year-old was nominated by Samajwadi Party from Shikohabad seat for 2012 Assembly elections,family sources said. Verma contested the 2007 Assembly polls from Shikohabad on a BJP ticket.