By IANS,
New Delhi : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s place in the politics of tomorrow may be a certainty after his emergence as the party’s most visible face in the Lok Sabha elections. But while some first timers are drawn towards his focus on the youth, many are unimpressed.
“Somewhere his ideas are not very impressive and honestly not related to the youth. The youth today is not very close to hardcore politics and national issues and somewhere the issues that the Congress calls (related to) youth are nowhere near the youth. Have we ever heard them talking about environment, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse?” asked Diksha Grover, a college student.
A day after Rahul Gandhi enunciated the Congress strategy post-polls in an exhaustive press conference in the capital, which saw many hard boiled journalists saying “Pappu pass ho gaya”, Indraprastha University student Shalini Sethi said he would be no good as minister.
Referring to his programmes for the youth, she said: “I think its another propaganda by the Congress and this time it is via Rahul Gandhi. Since his persona and looks have influenced the youth of the country a lot, they are using this fact to get votes. I personally think that if he comes to power as a minister then he will be no good.”
First time voter Sabika Muzaffar said Rahul Gandhi’s comments wooing the Left and praising senior opposition leaders were part of a “please-all” tactic.
“Since it is evident that the Left does not want to support the UPA (United Progressive Alliance), all that Rahul Gandhi is saying is merely a please-all tactic – he is not taking a clear stand,” she said.
However, Naam Chakravarty, another college student, said the Gandhi scion was being diplomatic.
“The fact that he is pleasing opposition parties is merely diplomacy – which I think is important in politics.
“As a leader I don’t know if he is good enough to hold key positions as no one has seen him working,” she added.
While many like 20-year-old Arzoo felt that Rahul Gandhi, 39, did not even “figure in the young 20-30 category”, others thought the fact that he wanted to work with the youth was commendable.
“We need people like him in politics, It’s a good thing that he wants to work with the youth of the country and facilitate their entry into governance – he is trying to pump young blood and new people into the government. I will vote for Congress,” said Shweta Sharma, pursuing her postgraduation in English Literature.
His good looks help.
Saanya Khanna, like several other young girls, felt his charming ways would guarantee his win and ascent to the prime minister’s post some day.
“I want him to be the prime minister because he is very charming. I think his fan following is so much, especially females, that he will surely win. If he wishes to only act as a representative of the youth, let him be…”
There were also the apolitical youngsters who said Rahul Gandhi didn’t really matter.
Adil Usman, a student of Lingaya College of Engineering, said: “I don’t have an idea about what he said. I don’t follow political news very religiously and I will decide whom to vote for instantly at the polling booth. I think all parties are the same.”