Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi interacts with JNU students

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited JNU campus late Tuesday and interacted with students on various issues. He also addressed a public meeting organized by NSUI, the student wing of Congress Party. The meeting took place in the Kendriya Vidyalaya grounds in the university campus.

Interacting with students, Congress General Secretary spoke at length on various issues including education, economy and growth. He said, “It would take some time before growth could trickle down and energise the economy.”

Responding to a query from students he stressed the need of channelising the industrial growth for reforms in education. He said, “There is no point in industrial growth if its benefit does not reach the masses and resolve the common man’s plight.” He also called for subsidising the education at all the levels.

While replying to a query from the audiences he said he visited poor man’s house. “It is the media which says that it is Dalit’s house,” Congress General Secretary said. He expressed his concern over the widening gap between the politicians and common people. “If a leader goes to a Dalit’s house, people ask why you visit a Dalit’a house. When thousands of leaders do not visit Dalit’s house, people don’t ask them why they not go,” he asked.

Referring to his recent visit to Dalit's house, Congress General Secretary said that when he went to their houses they welcomed and cuddled him. “They said I was the first politician who had come to meet them,” said Congress General Secretary. He also expressed surprise why his visit to the houses of the poor was criticised.

While responding to a query about hierarchal system in the politics Congress General Secretary said, “"the hierarchal system exists. It is a reality. But, what is the option before me? I can either propagate the system or change it. I am not the one to propagate it so I am trying to change it. You do not like the system; even I do not like it. We have to work together to change it," he said.
To a query about rampant corruption, he said corruption happens when you have a system which is not transparent. He mentioned RTI, unique identification project and political mobilization and democratization of the system as significant steps taken by the UPA government to check the malpractice.

He said the implementation of Sachchar committee report is a commitment of the UPA government.

Thousands of students thronged to hear the Congress General Secretary who was on his maiden visit to the university campus after his foray into politics.Congress General Secretary, before moving to address the meet, also paid a quick visit to Jhelum hostel where he had dinner with students.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Youth icon in the eyes of youths

During this visit of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, media and party workers were kept aloof, for he wanted to have a direct communication with the people. He wanted to have the first hand experience of the government schemes which were meant for people. When Rahul visited a village, he asked people whether they recognize him or not. A young man in his twenties recognized him first and the news spread like a fire.

Rahul Gandhi has become a youth icon of this country. In an era, when MPs and MLAs have become ‘antique’ to be hardly found in their own constituencies, Rahul’s visit and people’s euphoria for him in a backward distant rural hinterland is certainly a big truth. This shows how the youth of this country may not recognize his representative, but they certainly connect themselves with Rahul Gandhi. In a phase of ignorance and negativity towards politics and political class, Congress General Secretary has become the symbol of the youth in this country.

Communicate with the common man and be law abiding

Wherever Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi went, he directly talked to common people. There were no party workers; he asked people about the NAREGA and public distribution system (PDS). He asked them about the flood relief and tried to know whether the local MPs and representatives were available to them or not. Congress General Secretary even asked the name of those Congress workers who helped people during the flood. It is obvious that after this visit, MPs and party leaders are more alert now.

Though it may sound out of context, but Rahul Gandhi has tried to revive the old tradition of going to people secretly and know their problems. Unfortunately, in modern day democracy, leaders have, it seems, forgot their utmost duty towards the people. Rahul Gandhi is trying to fill the ever widening gap between leaders and the people.

Congress General Secretary also ate jalebi at a roadside shop. In fact, he desires to experience and behave like a commoner.

At one place, he even paid toll tax and when the tax collecting staff got to know that this person is a VVIP like Rahul Gandhi he was dismayed. But Congress General Secretary did not mind, for he believes in abiding with the law. He believes that he is part of the society, not above them. This is the Rahul mantra for the new breed of politicians.

Austerity and politeness must be the USP of politicians

What is the worth of a driver or a cook before a wealthy and connected person? In this era of material rush where humane feelings are hard to be found, a driver is not more than a labourer working tirelessly for a fixed amount of money. But same is not true, if the person concerned is Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.

When Rahul Gandhi was on his way back to Delhi on Thursday, he shook hand with his driver and thanked him. His politeness shows his concerns for the common man. In this era of showmanship, where politicians regard themselves not less than raja-maharajas of yesteryears, Rahul’s handshake indicates a big change. There is a hidden massage to the proud and rigid politicians that their relevance lies in serving the people. Austerity and politeness is its first term and condition.

There has been a great hue and cry over the austerity drive in government circle but Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi believes in doing it silently. He flew economy class when he went to Lucknow and when he retuned back from there..

He follows the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi which was reiterated in his favourite bhajan Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye…., He never forgets that the first and last duty of a politician is to serve the people. Perhaps some qualities come through inheritance which is transferred as an accumulated experience from one generation to another.

Hand pump bath and paddy fields visit are more than symbolism

On Thursday morning, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi went to a hand pump and had bath there. Thereafter, he went to see the paddy fields and asked villagers about NAREGA work. He had a first hand experience of how the people of this country manage to get the drinking water. He also saw that how state government boasts of providing drinking water facilities to each and every household, but only on paper. Numerous government and non government reports have proved that majority of diseases are caused due to the consumption of polluted water.

Rahul Gandhi also went to paddy fields and saw the road built under NAREGA. In a country where majority of its political class belongs to villages but forget it once after being elected, it is not a common thing for a politician like Rahul Gandhi. He believes in doing things; he wants to see the ground realities.

Rahul Gandhi has tried to turn this myth upside down that politicians don’t care for villagers. Certainly, he has started a new tradition by staying overnight in villages.. It means that the interest of rural India can not be ignored for long. India can not move ahead without the progress of its village; without the electricity and safe drinking water being supplied to each and every village. Perhaps this is the true and actual message of Rahul Gandhi’s visit, both to our political class and government institutions.

Village must be the focus of all development

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to several districts of UP has surprised many people. But the most important point which this visit has pushed ahead is; are the politicians of this country really ready to understand the concerns of the people? Or they really are willing to shrug off the glamorous life style of AC cars with lal batti ? Time and again, Rahul Gandhi has said that there is a widening gap between the people and the political class of this country. In such a scenario, how can such leaders, claiming to have the popular mandate, feel and understand the empathy of the common man who have sent them to assemblies and Parliament?

On Wednesday night, when Rahul Gandhi spent his night at a Dalit’s house in distant Sravasti village without a mosquito net, he basically wanted to feel the 'reality'.. This is the same area where the deadly Encephalitis disease killed more than 200 people this year. According to reports more than 1000 people were infected with this disease in this part of eastern UP. By sleeping in a village under open sky, Congress General Secretary tried to understand this menace individually. This disease is caused by mosquitoes and polluted water but the government of UP has been a complete failure to tackle this disease.

It is obvious that the recent visit of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi provided him the opportunity to experience the bitter living conditions of the hinterland. Of course, this was an honest initiative of a young politician.

What he experienced that there was no electricity.