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."