‘Power is poison’, but Rahul not afraid of tasting it
21 Jan 2013 7:35 AM IST
Stating that the ‘young and impatient India’ now demands ‘a greater role’ in decision making, newly-appointed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi gave an impassioned maiden speech to mark his entry into the ‘real’ world of politics besides outlining the road map for 2014 elections and laying emphasis on the importance of recognizing people’s ‘voices’.
Greeted by a huge applause and slogan shouting by AICC members on the concluding day of Chintan Shivir in Jaipur, Rahul hugged his mother seating next to him before moving towards the podium. He thanked everyone for the ‘huge honour’, especially the party. Rahul questioned the existing concept of power in India. ‘Power is grossly centralized in our country. We only empower people at the top of a system. We don’t believe in empowering people all the way to bottom,’ he said.
Speaking on decision-making process in India, the 42-year-old said, ‘It can’t be decided by hand full of people sitting behind closed doors who aren’t fully accountable to people. People say India’s system is stuck in the past, that it has became one which robs people of their voice, a system that dis-empowers instead of empowering. No matter what state you look at, No matter which political party you look at, why do a handful of people control the entire political space?’
Identifying the problem, he said, ‘Why is our youth angry? They are angry because they are alienated. They are excluded from the political class. They watch from the sidelines.’
Rahul also drew a road map for 2014 polls. ‘There is a need to focus on leadership development,’ Rahul said. He also talked about the need to develop leaders at the state and central level who could successfully lead the party. ‘One must respect every party worker. Action needs to be taken against people who split from the party and stand against it as independent candidates,’ said Rahul.
Greeted by a huge applause and slogan shouting by AICC members on the concluding day of Chintan Shivir in Jaipur, Rahul hugged his mother seating next to him before moving towards the podium. He thanked everyone for the ‘huge honour’, especially the party. Rahul questioned the existing concept of power in India. ‘Power is grossly centralized in our country. We only empower people at the top of a system. We don’t believe in empowering people all the way to bottom,’ he said.
Speaking on decision-making process in India, the 42-year-old said, ‘It can’t be decided by hand full of people sitting behind closed doors who aren’t fully accountable to people. People say India’s system is stuck in the past, that it has became one which robs people of their voice, a system that dis-empowers instead of empowering. No matter what state you look at, No matter which political party you look at, why do a handful of people control the entire political space?’
Identifying the problem, he said, ‘Why is our youth angry? They are angry because they are alienated. They are excluded from the political class. They watch from the sidelines.’
Rahul also drew a road map for 2014 polls. ‘There is a need to focus on leadership development,’ Rahul said. He also talked about the need to develop leaders at the state and central level who could successfully lead the party. ‘One must respect every party worker. Action needs to be taken against people who split from the party and stand against it as independent candidates,’ said Rahul.
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