I was witness to Rahul's birth, thrilled he contested from Wayanad: Retired nurse
Kochi (Kerala), May 3: Rajamma Vavathil, a retired nurse and a voter in Wayanad, says forcefully that no one should contest Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's citizenship status after all, she was one of those on duty at Delhi's Holy Family Hospital on June 19, 1970 when he was born.
The 72-year-old, who was still in training to be a nurse at the time, said she was among the first to take the infant Rahul in her hands.
I was lucky as I was first among the few who took the newborn baby in my hands. He was so cute. I was witness to his birth. I was thrilled... we all were thrilled to see the grandson of prime minister Indira Gandhi, Vavathil told PTI over phone from Wayanad.
Forty-nine years later, the "cute baby" is Congress president and a contestant from Wayanad. And Vavathil, who now describes herself as "nearly a housewife", said she couldn't be happier.
She remembers the day well.
Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv Gandhi and uncle Sanjay Gandhi were waiting outside the labour room of the hospital when Sonia Gandhi was taken for delivery, Vavathil recounted.
It's a story she has often told her family.
The retired nurse said she is saddened by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's complaint questioning the Congress president's citizenship status.
According to Vavathil, no one can question Rahul Gandhi's identity as an Indian citizen and Swamy's complaint about his citizenship is baseless .
All records about Rahul Gandhi's birth would be there at the hospital, she said.
Vavathil, who completed her nursing course from Delhi's Holy Family Hospital, later joined the Indian military as a nurse.
After taking VRS from service, she returned to Kerala in 1987 and is now settled in Kalloor near Sulthan Bathery.
Vavathil expressed the hope that she would be able to meet Rahul Gandhi when he visits Wayanad next time.
Wayanad, which came into national prominence after Congress chief's Rahul Gandhi's candidature, registered record polling of 80.31 per cent in the polls held on April 23.
The votes will be counted on May 23.
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PoK will 'reintegrate with India soon', says head of All India Imam Organisation
Srinagar (PTI): Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, on Friday said Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would "very soon" be reintegrated with India.
"I want to say one thing to our neighbouring country from standing here in Kashmir that PoK, which is an integral part of India, will definitely rejoin India because the people of PoK want to have a referendum there," Ilyasi told reporters here.
He claimed that the residents of PoK are keen to reintegrate with India, citing the development and prosperity witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir.
"God willing, their 'ghar wapsi' will take place soon. It is the people there who want it. They are happy to see the development of Kashmir. Seeing how Kashmir is progressing today, PoK will be rejoined with India very soon," he said.
The chief Imam said he was very happy to see a "transformed" Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.
"It has become a new Kashmir. Today's Kashmir has become excellent; there is prosperity throughout, and tourism has increased. The people here are prosperous. There was a time when young people and children here used to throw stones. Today, they have pens in their hands. They are studying," he said.
Referring to last year's terror attack in Baisaran meadows in Pahlagam that left 25 tourists and a local pony handler dead, Ilyasi said tourism had briefly declined after the incident but urged people to visit the region.
"I want to tell everyone that they should visit Kashmir as there is no atmosphere of fear now," he said.
On the conflict in West Asia, he said war benefits no one and expressed hope for peace.
"Wars harm everyone; they are a sign of destruction. I have hopes from our country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, and God willing, he will mediate, and the war will end soon... there will be peace and tranquillity," he said.
