Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Congress workers on Friday marked the birthday of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with a series of programmes across the state capital, including religious ceremonies, cake-cutting events and public outreach activities.The day began with a Rudrabhishek ceremony at Hanumant Dham temple where prayers were offered for Gandhi’s good health and long life. The ceremony was performed by UP Congress chief Ajay Rai. At the UP Congress headquarters in Lucknow, Rai joined senior party members in a cake-cutting ceremony. Sweets were distributed as part of the celebrations.Addressing party workers, Rai said Rahul Gandhi had consistently raised issues concerning the Constitution, democracy, students, youth, farmers, women, backward classes, Dalits and minorities. He urged Congress workers to strengthen their participation in the party’s campaigns and continue opposing what he termed “anti-people policies” of govt.As part of the celebrations, Congress workers led by Ashish Dixit and Ankit Saxena distributed “Mohabbat Ka Sharbat” after Friday prayers near the Sunni Waqf Board mosque.Separate programmes were also organised by the party’s women’s wing. Former UP Mahila Congress central zone president Mamta Chaudhary and RTI department chairman Pushpendra Srivastava led a cake-cutting event attended by women office-bearers.At a gurdwara in Chandernagar, Alambagh, party leaders and workers offered ardas and prayed for Gandhi’s health and longevity. Among those present were Omkarnath Singh and Ranjeet Singh.
