News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 7 years ago
Rediff.com  » News » Power should go in the hands of youth: Digvijaya

Power should go in the hands of youth: Digvijaya

Source: PTI
May 21, 2016 21:41 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Saturday pitched for handing over power to the youth in the organisation, saying there is "no option" as the party is "facing challenges" in the backdrop of its drubbing in the recent assembly polls.

Singh's remarks come in the backdrop of a renewed buzz in the Congress circles about Rahul Gandhi's sooner than later elevation as party president.

"Now, we have to hand over power to the youth and there is no option. When I spoke about major surgery, some people had objections. I was advised that to seek a surgery I may lose my job but I would be happy.

"But the power should go in the hands of youth and this is a necessity from the party's point of view," Singh said.

He was speaking at a function organised to mark 25th death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. The programme started with Vande Mataram and chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai.

Singh said youth forms a major chunk of the population and with benefits from the reservations over the years many have been elevated to the middle class. He also emphasised on the need to understand the "aspirations" of youth and the middle class.

Asserting that the party was facing "challenges", he said there was a need to take on them. Youths are believed to have played a major role in the victory of Narendra Modi in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

One of the criticism of Rahul Gandhi after the loss of the Congress in the general elections was that the party vice-president failed to enthuse the young voters.

Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said the it was wearing the "mask of nationalism", but its "real face" is like British policy of divide and rule.

"The BJP and Modi ji are trying to take credit these days, but the pillar of the modern India is Rajiv Gandhi. "Those who never participated in the freedom struggle are trying to wedge a divide in the society and are misguiding the youth and the country. Our fight is not against any person, but against an ideology. The RSS ideology is to divide," Singh said.

He also accused the BJP of "usurping" the legacy of leaders like Vallabhbhai Patel, B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Subash Chandra Bose.

"They wear the mask of nationalism, but their real face is like the British policy of divide and rule. They make use of religion in politics," Singh said, alleging that currently the "seeds of hatred, rumours are being spread through social media".

He said that the Congress party is often accused of appeasing the minorities, but the party will work to protect the interests of 16 crore minority population if there is any injustice.

The Congress general secretary said he is a strong votary of conducting polls in the Youth Congress and noted that it is important to expand this wing of the party.

At a time when the Congress is believed to be grappling with fund crunch, Singh said if Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal can charge Rs 500 for a selfie, then every youth Congress worker can contribute Rs 250 to the party once a year.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
 
CHINESE CHALLENGE - 2022

CHINESE CHALLENGE