UP cobbler rejects Rs 10 lakh, keeps slipper made by Rahul Gandhi

Cobbler Ram Chet says he was offered Rs 10 lakh for a slipper stitched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi but he turned down the deal and he would like to keep the 'lucky' footwear in glass frame.

The cobbler also said officials from various government departments also reached out to him to enquire about his problems ever since the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha made a surprise visit to his humble shop in the Vidhayak Nagar area on outskirts of Sultanpur, turning Chet into a local celebrity.

Gandhi briefly stopped at Chet's shop on July 26 and spoke to him about his family and his problems. During this, Gandhi also tried his hand at stitching a footwear and pasting a shoe.

Chet now says Gandhi's visit has dramatically changed his fortunes, bringing him into the limelight.

"My world has completely changed. Nobody knew me before, but now people come to my shop and take selfies with me," he said.

Regarding the slipper stitched by Gandhi, Chet said, "I have received many calls from people wanting to buy that slipper. The highest offer I have received so far is that of Rs 10 lakh. Someone from Pratapgarh called me on Tuesday, offering Rs 5 lakh for the slipper. When I refused, they increased the offer to Rs 10 lakh. I told them I won't sell it as the slipper is lucky for me."

Asked what he plans to do with the slipper, he said, "I will frame it in glass and keep it in my shop. Rahul Gandhi has become a partner in my shop."

"By sitting in my shop and stitching a slipper, Rahul Gandhi has become my partner," he further explained.

Chet said he has been getting an increased attention from government officials since Gandhi's visit.

"After Rahul Gandhi visited my shop, officials from various government departments have started coming to enquire about my problems," he said.

The Congress leader had come to Sultanpur to appear before an MP-MLA court in a defamation case against him.

Local Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Mishra had filed the complaint on August 4, 2018 against Gandhi for his alleged objectionable comments against Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a press conference in Bengaluru in May 2018 during the Karnataka elections.