Rahul Gandhi captures young hearts and minds

The Hindu
Bellevision Media Network

Bangalore, 14 August 2010: It was a hectic day for All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi as he began the first of his two-day trip across the State on a “youth-connect” mission. Starting with Mysore, he went on to Shimoga and then to Dharwad, meeting scores of enthusiastic youngsters in each place who had lots of questions for the young MP.

 

In Mysore, he met with students of the St Philomena’s College for all of an hour. With the media strictly barred from the sessions, the students asked questions ranging from the nature of independence, the issue of Tamil rehabilitation in Sri Lanka, and whether he would don the prime ministerial mantle.

 

“Freedom is a continuous process. One can grow through questioning — question yourself, question others and question the people in authority,” was Mr. Gandhi’s reply to a question on independence.

 

 

Kuvempu Ranga Mandira in Shimoga was his next stop. In a 70-minute interaction, he tackled questions relating to issues ranging from terrorism and naxalism, to the turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir, the mining controversy, corruption and the role of youth in the nation building activities.

 

Fielding queries from students at SDM College of Engineering and Technology in Dharwad, Mr. Gandhi said it was not possible to fix minimum educational qualification to enter politics or the retirement age for the politicians. “Only 7 per cent of the population had access to higher education. If graduation was fixed as minimum qualification to enter politics, it would do injustice to the major chunk of the population.

 

Even the uneducated people possess skills that could be utilised in administration. Even specifying the age of retirement for the politicians may not be a wise decision. When the youth come into politics in more number the older generation would exit on its own,” he said.

 

Mr Gandhi’s visit comes alongside a membership drive by the National Students Union of India (NSUI), a front organisation of Indian National Congress. Earlier in the day, he arrived at the international airport at Devanahalli in Bangalore before boarding a special plane to Mysore.

 

Congress leaders led by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah welcomed Mr Gandhi on his arrival in Mysore. Mr. Gandhi will visit Bangalore and Gulbarga on Saturday.

 

Earlier Report:

Rahul Gandhi in Karnataka

 

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday landed up in Mysore on a two-day visit to Karnataka to strengthen the Congress’ student wing-National Students Union of India. He would interact with the students across the state during his visit over the next two days starting from Friday.

He would interact with the students at St. Phelomena college in Mysore and at Shimoga and Dharwad on the first day of the visit. Gandhi would travel to Gulbarga on Saturday morning and would meet the students of National College and National Law University of India. Gandhi will then meet the Karnataka PCC office bearers and its DCC heads later on Saturday.