Rahul Gandhi to be accorded status of state guest in MP

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said here today that Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi would be accorded the status of a state guest during his three-day visit starting on October 4.

Talking informally to reporters, the chief minister said that in politics rivals should not be considered as enemies. The status of state guest would be accorded to top leaders of others political parties as well if they came here.

"India has a tradition of giving honour to guests and we are only following it," Chouhan said.

Rahul Gandhi is coming to the state in connection with organisational elections for Youth Congress, party sources said.

Madhya Pradesh Congress Spokesman J P Dhanotia said that during the visit, the Congress general secretary would visit nine places including Sheopur, Shivpuri, Tikamgarh, Rewa, Ujjain and Bhopal.