How to join politics?
If you did not have the Gandhi-tag or in other words, if you were a common man, would you have still been in politics? — was the first question of the interactive session, asked by Mr Mohith Garv, a student of Manipal College of Dental Sciences.
“I liked the question,” Mr Rahul Gandhi said, “it is a matter of perception. You see me as a Gandhi as I see myself as a common man. At the same time, if I was not (from) Gandhi (family), perhaps I would not have been in politics. On the other hand, it’s not easy to enter any party if you are not somebody in politics or connected with politics...”
Ban irks journalists
As per the schedule, Rahul Gandhi was supposed to interact students at Dr T M A Pai Convention Centre on M G Road, besides an interactive session with fishermen at Urwa Church Auditorium; interaction with differently abled children at St Agnes Special School; and finally party workers meeting at Town Hall. However, three other programmes incorporated in the schedule are - visits to Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple (inaugurated by Rajiv Gandhi), Bishop’s House and Sayyed Madani dargah in Ullal.
Barring interaction with students in the morning, the media was not allowed to any of the six other places. In fact, media persons were asked to leave the place during the interactive session with students. However, it was a difficult task as media persons were scattered among the students in the auditorium.