Rahul pitches for youth power in politics

Pitching for youth power in the country's polity, Congress parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi on Saturday lamented that there was no space for young people in any political party, including his own.

"In every party, including Congress, I see that there is no space for the younger lot," he said adding, to change a country, "you have to work together with a new force and involve the youth in the initiative".

Change was possible only if young people joined the political process, Rahul, who is on his 'Discover India' tour, said addressing a rally in Gunpur, Orissa, in the memory of his father and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

This place is significant for the Congress party as well as the Gandhi scion as Rajiv had addressed his last political rally from Gunpur before being assassinated in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

"Seventeen years have gone since my father passed away. He was not my father alone. In fact, he was the voice of the Indian youth. With the death of Rajiv Gandhi it was the voice of the country's youth that faded away," he said.

Continuing his tirade against the Orissa government, Rahul said earlier he used to think that Uttar Pradesh was the most backward state, but he has changed his opinion after visiting Orissa.

Rahul said he would give opportunities to youngsters to work with the Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India, which is a true youth organisation of the country.

"There is no discrimination on the basis of religion and caste," he said.

Meanwhile, the Youth Congress is holding a massive membership drive on the sidelines of the Gandhi scion's four-day rally in the state. Rahul has constituted a separate task force to ensure that youth from all states are represented in the organisation.