Kochi: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrived in Kochi on Monday and presented the Priyadarshini Literary Award, instituted by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, to noted critic and scholar Dr M Leelavathy at Kalamassery.

Rahul also met the party’s elected local body representatives at Marine Drive, Kochi. In a post on X, the Congress said he received a warm welcome from party leaders and workers at Cochin International Airport.

Addressing the gathering in Kochi, the Congress leader said, "All over the country, we see people who believe something but don't have the courage to say it. But great nations are not built in silence. Great nations, great people are built when they express their views and opinions, and fight for them. Embedded in the culture of silence is also the idea that greed: it does not matter what is happening as long as I am getting what I need. I don't need to say anything. I can watch people being humiliated, people being murdered, people being killed. As long as I'm okay, everything is okay. That culture of greed."

The party’s ongoing Mahapanchayat is being attended by Kerala Assembly Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and other senior Congress leaders.

According to Congress MP Shafi Parambil, the Mahapanchayat “serves as the unofficial launch of the Congress party’s election process for the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly elections.”

Meanwhile, Congress MP K L Sharma on Monday outlined Rahul Gandhi’s schedule for his two-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Raebareli.

Speaking to ANI, Sharma said Gandhi will meet the public, inaugurate development projects, and address an MGNREGA Chaupal. “Rahul ji has a 2-day program here. He will arrive here this evening, and his programs will begin tomorrow. In the morning, he will meet the public. Later, he will inaugurate various development programs. He will also inaugurate the Rae Bareli T20 Premier League. He will also address an MGNREGA Chaupal,” Sharma said.

On January 20, Rahul will hold a community meeting in Rohaniya, Unchahar. On the second day of his visit, he is scheduled to meet senior party leaders at his guest house.

ANI