Rahul Gandhi meets Varun Gandhi at Kedarnath
New Delhi, Nov 7: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his cousin Varun Gandhi, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, had a brief meeting at the Kedarnath temple on Tuesday where both had gone to offer prayers, sources said.
The meeting between the cousins, who are rarely seen together in public, triggered speculation in some quarters over Varun Gandhi's political future.
Varun Gandhi, the son of Sanjay and Maneka Gandhi, has not been seen at key BJP meets in recent months and his comments on crucial issues, including those on the now-repealed farm laws, have sometimes been at variance with the party's stand.
Sources told PTI that the Gandhis met briefly outside the revered shrine and exchanged pleasantries. They said the meeting was "very short" and "warm one".
Rahul Gandhi was "very happy" to meet Varun's daughter, they said, adding though the two cousins do not meet, they have maintained "good and civil" ties.
The sources also said that nothing political was discussed at the meeting.
During a press conference last year, when asked whether Varun Gandhi would be welcome in the Congress, Rahul Gandhi said though anybody was welcome, Varun has "adopted the ideology of the BJP/RSS" against which the Congress was fighting.
Rahul Gandhi has been at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand for the last three days, while Varun Gandhi visited the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva along with his family on Tuesday.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Latur teacher beats 32 students over suspicion of motorbike damage; arrested
Latur (Maharashtra) (PTI): Police have arrested a school teacher in Maharashtra's Latur district for allegedly thrashing 32 minor students, suspecting them of damaging his motorcycle, officials said.
Some pupils sustained injuries in the incident, which occurred at the private school hostel for students from classes 5 to 10 near Ahmedpur on the night of February 21, they said.
The accused, identified as Ujjwal Prakash Soni, suspected that students had damaged his motorcycle. He allegedly lost his temper and assaulted dozens of minor students with a bamboo stick, police said on Monday.
ALSO READ: Pastor arrested for conversion bid in UP's Ballia
He also allegedly threatened the children, claiming he would soon become the school principal and would then deal with them, the police said.
The principal of Christ International School, Zeba Nadar, later lodged a complaint at Ahmedpur Police Station.
The police arrested Soni after registering a case against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
In an official statement, Principal Nadar said the school lodged the complaint on February 22 and assured that student safety remains the institution's top priority.
"The incident is deeply unfortunate and condemnable. The school administration stands firmly with the students and will ensure their well-being," the principal said.
