New Delhi, April 19
The cracks within the Haryana Congress became more evident on Sunday when supporters of Bhupinder Singh Hooda at a farmers' rally here caused disruption during the speech of state party chief Ashok Tanwar.

Party leader Sandeep Dikshit condemned the incident as "stupid" on part of certain "over-zealous supporters who tend to show extra loyalty to their respective leaders".

"But that is inappropriate and sends a wrong message," he said.

In the same breath, however, Dikshit sought to downplay the incident, saying "it was not a big issue. They (the supporters) may not be united because of their loyalty to their respective leaders. But they are united on the issue of farmers".

Meanwhile, in an apparent show of strength, the pink turbans worn by Hooda supporters at the venue stood out in a crowd of over 50,000 farmers who attended the rally at Ramlila Maidan here.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, along with party president Sonia Gandhi, addressed the gathering of farmers and landless labourers who converged in the national capital to protest against the Narendra Modi government's land acquisition ordinance.

Kiran Choudhary's awkward moment at 'Kisan' rally

Haryana Congress legislature party chief Kiran Choudhry had a brief awkward moment when she momentarily lost her balance while felicitating party vice president Rahul Gandhi at the stage set for the "kisan-khet mazdoor" rally here on Sunday.

Among the Congress leaders called onto the stage to felicitate Rahul Gandhi, Choudhary briefly tripped over and sprained her foot while presenting a symbolic plough to the young party leader as a token of appreciation for his work in Bhatta-Parsaul.

Gandhi led a protest march in Bhatta Parsaul in 2011 against the then Mayawati government's land acquisition in Uttar Pradesh.

A party official told IANS that it was a minor sprain and immediate medical aid was provided.

"She is feeling alright now," the official added.

The Bhatta-Parsull 'padyatra' is widely understood to have helped carve a passage for the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 brought by the Congress-led UPA government.

Brief moment of embarrassment for Congress

In what is being widely termed as an embarrassing moment for the Congress, a large group of farmers was seen leaving the venue as soon as party president Sonia Gandhi began to address the "Kisan-Khet Mazdoor" rally here.

A group of farmers wearing pink turbans, believed to be former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's supporters who were issued a pink turban code for the rally, left Ramlila Maidan just as party vice-president Rahul Gandhi finished speaking and Sonia Gandhi took over the microphone.

While the sudden dispersal of the pink-turbaned group raised curiosity, the Congress party sought to downplay the movement.

"It can happen in any rally. People left due to the hard weather. This is not an issue at all," party leader Meem Afzal told a news channel.

Echoing the view, a police official told IANS that although there were over 50,000 people who attended the rally on Sunday, many left the ground before the end as "it was too hot to stand for long hours".

Incidentally, after the Congress's rout in 2014 Haryana state assembly election under Hooda's leadership, Sonia Gandhi appointed Kiran Choudhary, a known Hooda detractor, as leader of the Congress legislature party.

Hooda, however, continues to hold sway in the state unit of the party.