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Revisiting his alma mater, the young Congress MP interacted with a group of students at the St Stephen's College in New Delhi at a closed-door session talking about the current polity of the country.
Reaching out to the student community, he regretted that transparency and democracy was lacking in some political parties of the country, according to students who attended the interaction.
"Come and join politics so that you could improve and bring in transparency," was the advice of 39-year-old Gandhi to students who received him as a ‘very inspiring person and face of the future politics’.
The MP from Amethi, who has earlier travelled to dusty and impoverished villages in various states, visited the college days after his comment that "students were not encouraged to ask questions at St Stephens" had created a flutter.
Pitching for youngsters joining politics, Rahul said this was required to bring about a ‘change’ in the political system of the country, the students said.
"We need to involve ourselves in it to make a difference," Gandhi was quoted as saying by Manoj Rawal, a third year student.
"Young students cutting across their political affiliation should come forward to make the system transparent and responsive," Gandhi said.
He also touched upon the subject of higher education, saying there was a need to bring in changes in the system there.
Gandhi is also understood to have disfavoured any role for politicians in running of educational institutions and stressed the need for ‘independence’ of the teaching community in framing of policies in higher education.
He also emphasised the need for improving educational infrastructure in rural areas and said there is a need to improve the curriculum. "The funds sometimes do not reach the beneficiaries. We need to improve the system," he added.
Gandhi also took exception to the action of an ABVP activist who spat on the face of SAR Geelani, acquitted in Parliament attack case, and vandalised the hall where he was attending a seminar last week.
When he was told by a student that they were scared to the extent of not attending a protest against the ABVP action, Gandhi said, "You should go out. Take the risk. Involve yourself in politics because if you don't go, someone else will step into your shoes."
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Dear Mr. Gandhi,I am a very enthusiastic kashmiri pandit 38 years old, who has been serving humanity in all possible ways. But my this enthusiastic demeanour has been abruptly blocked though I have been a bright meritorious student as well as a high achiever professionally till date. The current job market scene has rendered me jobless for last seven months and I have a huge liability on my shoulders that needs me to get immediately reemployed. Waiting for your earliest suggestions and directives to help alleviate my current helpless situation.Thanks
This web site didn't answer any of my questions. I wanted to learn how to get involved in politics being a young person and this sit didn't say anything about that.
A caricature of Barack Obama, ending up as a Sarah Palin! Change we should; to start with, abolish politcs of family inheritance. And then,become an idol by going back to those great institutions of education which you deserted, and complete your education.
Don't you feel that complete failure of the government in handling terror attacks has given birth to counter terrorism from Hindus?And is it not dangerous for the country because such type of terrorism will widen the gap and give rise to more communal riots and social disharmony?And Politicians are solely responsible for such erosion in Indian values for love and peace. Don't you agree with my views?People have lost faith in politicians and Congress Party is mainly responsible for the same because they ruled the country for a large period and it is they who sowed the seeds of caste divide, communal divide and regional divide to rule in the country. What do you feel?Is Media not responsible for igniting fire or adding fuel to fire over caste based conflicts, regional feelings and communal tensions?Because media never reports that a person or an Indian is killed, they always say that a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian or a Rajput , or a dalit or a Brahmin is killed.
Unlimited blunders are being commited by N
Rahul - Do not Try to imitate Obama. I am a Young person..But a politician like Rahul Gandhi is not all appealing to me. He is nothing but a fruit of dynastic politics. A person Who can not even have his studies complete..how can he lead a country ? would he have been in the position if he is not a member of Gandhi family ?
Excuse me idiot, please do not try to be India's Obama. These are the differences between you and Obama - 1. Obama is the son of a african father and a white mother. He married an afro-american woman from Chicago becuase he wanted to be grounded to who he is. You on the other hand, say u are Indian, but u are paling around with a latino. 2. Obama earned his position. He went to Harvard on his own merit, and instead of taking up plum job, worked as a community organizer, helping people. You on the other hand, are the yuvraj of india, born with a silverspoon, studied abroad on your papa's money (most of it was ill-gotten) and are waiting to be anointed as the head of Congress. Your call of Change and Intra-party democracy is hollow, because you represent the very problem that you claim to be solving. When you ask youth to join congress, are you asking them to be a leader, or your chamcha on whose shoulder you can climb your way up to the throne?
This guy is amazing, His family has ruled the country for almost half a century now and yet he talks as if he is a outsider, and the IE gamorizes it by catchy news title such as "Yes we can" If Rahul G really means business he should get his hands dirty and start doing some real work instead of sermonizing
Yes youth should join politics but know their place in the totem pole. The top spot is reserved to the scion of the Nehru Gandhi clan and join and support them. There is room way below in the totem pole and dont try to rock the boat. If Rahul wants real reform he will open the door for others and step outside the political areana like Mahatma Gandhi did. We should have a system that lets people like Barak Obama to go to the top. If need be we should reform the political system that allow people to choose their leaders directly like the US does. We also need rural education so that the masses feel free and not coerced to support the existing order. we also need freedom from the Delhi bureaucrats. Let us decentralize the power so that states that are capable can leap ahead pulling others in the process. Delhi should not be a weight that the states have to carry in their flight to prosperity.
well said Shantanu..we need more people who think like you..Shekhar Gupta should be ashamed to allow such lies to be written in his newspaper.I once thought that in the Indian express, we had atleast one unbiased journalistic medium, but I thought wrong. Sad..
If it is public speak, w can understand but Mr Rahul Gandhi is serius then must be though process for another 20 Years. Practically it is possible only for those whos father/ mother is politician. As it is quesition of money, coruption
Why cant this fellow explain the reasons for his arrest at Logan airport by CBI for carrying large amount of dollars with him. He should also explain why he gang raped Sukanya Devi in Amethi.
The more this guy Rahul Khan is not exposed to the politics, the better for congress and the country.
It is interesting to see India's dollor funded english media, which is proping up dynastic rule of Sonia/Rahul using Obama's slogan of Change and 'yes we can do' stuff.. Sonia/Rahul/Congress/UPA represent stale old politics of divide and rule practiced since the first day of Independence by his Grand father, grand mother , father and now mother! .After equating anti-national Jihadi SIMI with nationalistic hindu forces, english media is about to play another sham on gullible public. Is real change Nehru-Gandi/Congress of failed 'pseudo-secular'/left policy? or Nationalistic forces sharing Gokhale/ Patel/Bose/ Tilak ideology? Well only real change in administration towords transparency/developments is happening in only one state in India, ironically most hated by English media, in Gujrat! People know it!
Absolutely correct. We listen to these remarks by "His Excellency" and his chamchas and the media never miss an opportunity to report on these no goods. This does give them the publicity and then we have another five years of stupid dangerous people sitting at the top. We need Gujarat like government everywhere in India and stop this dynasty from coming to power every again. That is the change we should vote for. Rahul Gandhi has proven that he can never be a leader that India needs, he just doesnot have the originality and he definitely is not a visionary and for that matter neither were his ancestors.
What Khanna said is true, but Congress cannot survive as a party without the Gandhi clan. It bonds the party together. Look at what happened to the party when Sitaram Kesari was the party head. Of course, internal democracy would have thrown up new set of leaders. One has also to remember that this clan has saved the country in a different context. They had a national outlook and did not belong to any region except to take care of thier own constitutencies. I magine where the country would have been with the Thackerays, Laloos, Karunanidhis and Deve gowdas. The family has saved the union.
Is communism the only answer to pseudo-secularism? When Hitler was the ruler of Germany the day-to-day administration was superb, although his party and rule killed 6 million jews. Modi's hands are stained with innocent blood of muslim women, children and even old women. I am not a supporter of jihadis. Organizations like SIMI should be punished. Terrorists irrespective of which religion should be punished. But it should be done through rule of law. Appeasement of minorities must stop. We must all strive to build one India free of religion-based or caste-based politics.
Raul is correct. He wants the students to come to the street stopping what they do to have a good future. He is now shopping for followers in all the colleges and the people/students who are without brain will do what he says.