With his head covered by a blue cloth, the former Congress chief paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple

After paying obeisance, he visited the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, and also performed 'sewa' (voluntary service) by cleaning water bowls used by devotees

Rahul Gandhi is also likely to attend the ritual of 'palki sewa' on Tuesday morning

The Congress leader is on a personal visit to the city, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said

Rahul Gandhi is coming to Amritsar Sahib to pay obeisance at Sachkhand Shri Harmandir Sahib. This is his personal, spiritual visit, let's respect his privacy. Request all party workers to not be physically present for this visit. You all can show your support in spirit & meet him the next time. Satnaam Shri Waheguru, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring posted on X

Rahul Gandhi's visit to Punjab comes at a time when there is tension between the Punjab Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party over the arrest of party MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in a 2015 drugs case

The Aam Aadmi Party and Congress-- members of the opposition's INDIA bloc-- have been at loggerheads in the border state over the arrest of Khaira

While the Congress is calling it vindictive politics of AAP, the ruling party is terming the development as part of their "zero-tolerance policy" against drugs

Some of the party leaders are also opposed to the alliance with the AAP in Punjab for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls