Rahul Gandhi targets youth, says merit should be the criteria

17th November 2007
Speaking during the AICC session here, Congress party's newly appointed General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said that Congress should be relevant to a broad range of young Indians and become "meritocratic" in which progress is linked to performance along with accountability.

It was his first speech after becoming General Secretary of the party. During the day he was praised by the party seniors from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

He appealed to the youth to join the Congress to build institutions are worthy of their dreams and capabilities.

In his short speech he was cheered by the gathering of Congress members that included his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Singh and Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and leaders from various parts of the country.

Rahul Gandhi said that wherever he went in his recent tours, he was asked two questions by the youth and members of
the NSUI and Youth Congress. The non-party youth wanted to know how they could join politics and serve the country, while the party youth asked him "how do we progress in our organisation".

Mr. Gandhi himself answered the questions, saying "If we are to truly become an organisation that represents the youth of our country, if we are to truly develop leaders of whom this nation can be proud, we need to do two things. The first is to build an organisation that is open and relevant to a broad range of Indians who believe in our values and seek to serve the nation".

"The second is to build a meritocratic organisation. Young people bring tremendous passion and energy into our organisation. We must see to it that they are accountable. It
is our duty to ensure that their progress is linked to their performance," he said.

Mr. Gandhi made a brief ten-minute speech, first in Hindi and then in English that outlined his vision for the party and his political thought.

He was welcomed with a huge garland by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and DPCC President J P Aggarwal, who presented a photograph of Rajiv Gandhi to him.

During his brief speech Mr. Gandhi unveiled his political vision. He said that the ''aam admi'' was the greatest asset of the country and called for creating opportunities for them in a resurgent India.

He said the true realisation of India's power lay in igniting the fire of ambition of the country's aspiring millions. In order for this flame to spread, India needs to be connected within itself and the rest of the world.

He said India needs to be connected physically through roads, electricity, telecommunication, railways and other infrastructure. ''We also need to connect India intellectually through literacy, education and training. Finally, we need to connect India economically through the creation of jobs and livelihood," he added.''
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