Congress downplays issue of Rahul's convoy being stopped in Amethi

Congress Thursday downplayed the incident of a group of people stopping Rahul Gandhi's convoy in Amethi over the issue of ticket distribution for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections saying this is normal for those in public life.

"Being stopped in this way is an ordinary thing for those who are in public life. If this is concerned with looking at somebody's view point, then there is no other leader other than Rahul Gandhi who is open to all sorts of opinions but if the purpose of such action is to obstruct, these people should do it upfront and take part in elections itself," party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.

Rahul's cavalcade was forced to halt at Babuganj Khasra village as supporters of a local leader blocked the way. They requested him to ensure that the party should field "clean" candidates in the assembly elections, party sources said.

Talking to reporters at the AICC, UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said Congress was giving tickets mostly to good people in the state. She said that Gandhi has a unique relationship with peopole and if somebody in his constituency puts across his viewpoint before him, there was nothing wrong in it.