"People are offering Rs 10 lakhs for shoes stitched by Rahul Gandhi": Cobbler from UP's Sultanpur

Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 1 (ANI): A visit by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to a cobbler's shop has opened a door of fortune for him, as people are offering him Rs 10 lakhs for a pair of shoes stitched by the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Ram Chet (cobbler), while he was on his visit to Sultanpur for a hearing of a defamation case, after which he went to his shop and tried his hand at stitching footwear.
Ram Chet said that he is getting offers of bags full of cash and become popular. People are coming to click selfies with him, passers-by are stopping their cars to greet him, and he is now the man in demand.
Speaking with ANI, Ram Chet said, "I was stitching the slippers when he arrived here. He asked me about how I do this. I explained to him how I stitch and then he tried his hand at stitching a footwear and pasting a shoe."
Ram Chet asserted that Gandhi's visit has unfolded a new chapter in his life and he is no longer a common man, as he is popular now.
"Since Rahul Gandhi has visited my shop, my life has changed. People are calling and meeting me. My life has changed since his visit. People are stopping their bikes, cars and greeting me. He has given me a lot of respect."
He further conveyed that people are offering him a huge sum of money for the footwear Gandhi had stitched, they are offering me as much as Rs 10 lakhs.
"The offers are becoming bigger. A person from Pratapgarh confirmed that it is the same shop where Rahul Gandhi stitched the shoes. He offered me Rs 5 lakhs to buy that shoes. He offered me bags full of cash, but I refused. I won't sell them. I will keep it to myself only," he said.
Highlighting the increased number of people at his shop, he said, "There is no increase in the income but I am getting a lot of respect. People are coming to honour me and click selfies with me."
A day later, Ram Chet got a sewing machine from the Congress leader. This machine makes it easier to stitch shoes and will help Ram Chet in his work.
While responding to a reporter's questions, the cobbler jokes, "Rahul Gandhi is my partner. We run the shop in partnership."
Rahul Gandhi gifted a shoe stitching machine to the cobbler he visited on his way back to Lucknow after appearing for a defamation case in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Sharing a post on X, Congress said, "People's leader Rahul Gandhi met cobbler Ram Chet in Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh) yesterday and understood the intricacies of his work."
The post added, "Now, a shoe stitching machine has been sent to him, which will make it easier for Ram Chet to stitch shoes. 'Aise hai aapke Rahul, Jan-Jan ke Rahul.'"
On his return a day before, Gandhi stopped briefly at the cobbler's shop and tried his hand at mending a chappal as could be seen in a video that was posted by the Congress party on its social media platforms. (ANI)