B. R. Hills (Karnataka), Mar. 25: Congress general secretary and Member of Parliament from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, Rahul Gandhi, today commenced his five-day roadshow of Karnataka with a visit to a tribal hamlet in the B. R. Hills area, about 300 kilometres from the state capital, Bangalore.

Aiming to understand and discover India, Rahul visited Muttugadagaddepodu, a tiny Soliga (primitive tribe) hamlet atop the B. R. Hills on the slopes of the Nilgiri biosphere in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Gandhi, who arrived by chopper from Bangalore, was accompanied by senior Congress leaders.

The roadshow in Karnataka is being seen as a significant one for the Hadi, or tribal hamlet, as Rahul Gandhi had his breakfast of honey and roots at the hous of Jadegowda, a Soliga tribal leader. Traditional tribal dances were also performed on the occasion of the visit.

After his departure, Jadegowda told ANI that "Rahul Gandhi came like a God, and we hope that under the Tribal Bill, we will be allowed to go into the forests to collect forest produces."

Meanwhile, the president of the Vivekananda Kendra in the B. R. Hills and Right Livelihood award winner, Dr. Sudarshan, said Rahul Gandhi showed keen interest and understanding of tribal life in Karnataka.

Gandhi will be in Karnataka from March 25 to 28, and the roadshow began from here. Eventhough, the Congress denies that the roadshow is a part of the party's planning for the State Assembly elections in May, the event is being seen here as nothing but that.

As part of his "Discovery of India" campaign, Rahul Gandhi is also taking the membership drive seriously, and making an effort to lure the youth to the Congress. (ANI)