Rahul Gandhi hold meeting with young achievers in Bangalore on Congress manifesto

Bangalore: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi met the youngsters in Bangalore to seek their suggestions on party manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The congress leader commented that though the Congress has been trying their best to serve the people, but is not good at marketing, unlike opposition parties.

"Our opposition markets better, works less. We work more but aren't good at marketing," said Rahul Gandhi during a interactive session at the National Congress' Consultation for the National Youth and Students' Manifesto. “Congress was the only party that could take every Indian together - rich, poor, Hindu or Muslim”, said the Congress vice-president addressing session which was attended by young Indians from varied backgrounds, including students, professionals, innovators, activists, researchers, artists and panchayat representatives.

Rahul Gandhi added that the fundamental reason for inadequate space for the youth in politics was the process of selecting candidates. "The fundamental reason why there is inadequate space for the youth in politics is that the process of entry and promotion are not transparent. The real problem is the process of selecting candidates," he said.  "Does any party ask the people who the candidate from their area should be?" asked the congress Member of Parliament from Amethi.

Rahul Gandhi stressed that bringing about a change involved creating institutions and processes that empower people. "Building systems takes time, it is not easy as it looks," he said. The Congress leader further said that the true empowerment needs to be sustainable and long-term. "Short term empowerment is in fact disempowerment," he said. Rahul Gandhi said the country needs to open up higher education system and link it to the industrial system, NGO system and various other systems.

Responding to a comment of a a participant from West Bengal on the atrocities against women, Rahul Gandhi said one of the biggest problems in the country is the lack of power women have and the way they are treated. "If I want to bring about one change, it would be the empowerment of women," he quipped. Rahul Gandhi also commented that  true governance is that which provides dignity and respect to people and ensures their voices are heard.
This was the third consultation held by Congress to secure suggestions for its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.