Rahul Gandhi exhorts Mumbai youth to stay focused

''If you want to make a change, join politics and the Congress party. Some people are trying to divert your attention from real issues, but you have to stay focused,'' he said addressing 1,100 college students at Bhaidas Hall in suburban Ville Parle here on Friday.

"Congress stands for a united India. There are two kinds of leaders in the country, one who divide and rule and the other who collaborate and take everyone along towards the objective of a united India and move forward."

There are some people here who are trying to divide you on communal and linguistic basis and Congress is against them, the Congress General Secretary said.

Earlier, Rahul arrived here amid tight security following Sena's threat to greet him with black flags.

Despite the Sena's threat after Rahul's "Mumbai-for-all" comments, Police Commissioner D Shivanandan, said that the city was peaceful and there were no disruptions.

The officer said many people were detained as a precautionary measure. However, he declined to divulge any further details on the issue.

Yash Panchal from N N College, who attended the meeting, said that the hour-long deliberations with the Congress leader was a good experience.

According to Yash, Rahul said his father was born in Mumbai and mother in Italy.
"My great-grandfather was born in Allahabad, who also had his origins in Jammu and Kashmir. I live in Delhi," Rahul said.

"Where should I say I belong to? I know one thing that I am Indian and I belong to India," he added.

Rahul also interacted with the students on the process of enrolment in the Youth Congress. When a student asked him why was he in politics, the Gandhi scion said he was "irritated" with the present political system and wanted to change it.

Dhawal Kantawal, a second year MBA student, said Rahul began his interaction saying that he had come there to have fun with them.

Then he asked us how many students were from families having political background, Dhawal said. Six-seven students raised their hands, then he asked that how many students knew the process to get into politics, to which one replied that it was through family connection.

Then Rahul said he was here to deal with those who did not have any political family background and get these people into politics.

Prabdeep Singh, a student hailing from Chandigarh, said even though all the students found Rahul to be a genuine person, they were cynical in their judgement about politicians.

We do not know whether Youth Congress is a well-oiled machinery which can translate Rahul's vision into reality, Singh said. However, the student expressed his desire to join Youth Congress.

All the girls found Rahul to be a very good looking person, Nidhi Bang said. "We could not take our eyes off him."

Nidhi said she, too, was planning to join Youth Congress.
Dhawal said even though he was a BJP supporter, he found the Congress general secretary very impressive.

Meanwhile, some students said they felt that Rahul's visit was a marketing exercise for the YC membership drive and he was unwilling to discuss other issues though he answered questions regarding preparation for Commonwealth Games and the state of education system.