The ‘‘private’’ visit turned ‘‘discreet’’ and hours before Congress MP Rahul Gandhi left for Guwahati, he spoke to reporters, explaining the security blanket that kept the media away throughout his trip.Until a day before, state Congress leaders and security personnel herded away the media, saying Rahul’s visit was ‘‘private’’ even as he met partymen to discuss regional issues. Rahul today clarified that his visit was ‘‘discreet’’ and that he was here to learn about the region.The Lok Sabha MP said he was impressed with the government’s ‘Look-East’ policy but refused to go into details. Following his two-day stop at the state, he said infrastructure development was a thrust area.Questioned on autocracy in the Congress, Rahul said: ‘‘Which political parties in India is democratic?’’ He added that political parties, especially in UP, had no base in the grassroots. ‘‘This must change,’’ he said, stressing parties must rise from the village level. Rahul, however, had a tough time tackling agitated mediapersons and explaining the security apparatus that kept them away even from the meeting he held with Congress leaders at a local hotel today. Over-zealous securitymen had yesterday locked up reporters and photojournalists at the hotel bar ahead of Rahul’s arrival and did not let them leave until he had entered the conference room. The last time Rahul came visiting was with his mother, Sonia Gandhi, in 1998.
