Visit to Mumbai was a huge success, says Rahul Gandhi

Kochi, Feb 6 (IANS) Congress party general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday told a gathering of student leaders near here that his visit to Mumbai was a huge success.

"When 15 Shiv Sena activists waved black flags at me, thousands in Mumbai welcomed me. The visit was a huge success," said Gandhi, who surprised all in the state Congress unit here with his unexpected visit.

On Friday, Gandhi rode a local train in Mumbai and withdrew money from an ATM near the station, winning over the people of the city. Shiv Sena activists waved black flags to protest his visit.

Gandhi arrived here by a special flight around 11.10 a.m, and drove straight to the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student's wing of the Congress party, camp here.

He asked three student leaders to speak first. After hearing them, the Congress leader said he would carry their message to Delhi.

One of the suggestions that came up at the meeting was that the next time the Congress-led alliance rules the state, the education portfolio should be kept by the Congress party and not given to the allies.

He assured the meeting that the next time he visits the state he will visit Kannur to address the students.

He was at the meeting for more than an hour.

On his way back to the airport, he gave the security people some anxious moments when he stopped and interacted with the waiting crowd.

For 10-year-old Shaful, it was an exciting moment when he presented Rahul Gandhi with a flower and in return got his autograph.

Later, when asked what Gandhi said to him, Shaful told reporters, "I was told that I should study well."

Gandhi returned to Delhi in the afternoon.