Firdaus Khan
While addressing an impressive rally organised by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) inside the Punjab University campus in Chandigarh on Thursday,  Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi urged the youth to join politics to clean the political system. Striking an emotional chord with the youth Rahul Gandhi said that the twenty-first century was going to be the century of India with tremendous human resource potential.

He said, Recently I had met with some ambassadors from Europe. They were talking about various issues across the world. They also expressed their disappointment in the situation in Europe. While appreciating the economic growth in China and India, they also talked about the worsening economic conditions in America. One of them shared with me an interesting fact. While the twentieth century was dominated by Saudi Arabia as it controlled the oil  – kala sona (black gold),  India is going to be the twenty-first century’s Saudi Arabia as it had tremendous human resource potential.

It is the people in front of me who are our human resources. The nation gets the strength from you, the youth, to surge ahead in this 21st century. We move forward adhering to the principles of democracy. I have been active in politics since the last eight years and I am clear on one point. There is no enough involvement and participation of the youth in the political process. You have solutions to all the issues related to jobs, corruption or development. You also have the idea, knowledge and wisdom on how to run our system; but the doors of politics are closed for you.

We have opened the doors in NSUI and Youth Congress for you. As a result now we have a number of youth, who have no relatives or friends in the Congress, as active members of these outfits. When we talked about democratic elections in the NSUI and Youth Congress, many of our opponents had laughed at us. But we showed them how to do it; not only in Punjab but in the entire country. We did it because we want more and more youth to join politics, cleanse the system and bring in positive changes.

When people asked our opponents when they would follow the footsteps of the Congress, they did not give any answer. They will get a befitting reply from the cadres of Youth Congress and NSUI in the coming days. When an ambassador from Europe appreciates that there is no shortage of human resources in India, what is happening in Punjab? Seven out of 10 youngsters are facing the problems related to drug. The ruling party had offered to give unemployment allowance during election campaigns, but now they say that they would give the allowances only to those who have already registered their names with Employment exchanges. The state government sends back the money sent by the central government for scholarships of SC and ST students, every year.

We have given you the strength and a way to enter politics. You can take part in the political process by fighting elections from NSUI, to begin with, and then Youth Congress before you can join the Congress. You can then have a chance to contest elections as MLA or MP so that you can bring in changes in our society. If you are reluctant to do so, no one else can do it.

We have a Congress government in Delhi. We brought in FDI. FDI is to ensure the right of the farmers to get adequate price for their products. BJP and NDA were not against FDI when they were in power at the Centre. But now, when we implemented it, they oppose it. They also had raised objections when we brought in MNREGA and talked about new land acquisition bill. They want to create obstacles because they know very well that if the Congress is allowed to go ahead these welfare policies, the entire system will be changed positively. If we ask them what exactly they are having in mind to do for the country, you will not get any answer. They are opposing it just for the sake of opposition. But no one can stop us. We have the support of the youth in front of me. You are the strength and the future of our country. Take part in development by joining us. The students who have just joined the NSUI are the future of our nation.

I want to share something with the girls assembled here. There are places which are developing fast and in some other places the pace of progress is slow. But remember, whereever there are women in active politics, development is fast.  The women in such places are educated, come out of their homes and put in their hard work. We need the same here too. I wish there would be a woman Chief Minister in Punjab within 10-15 years. You can do it.  So please join politics, clean it and change the country. Thank you.