Rahul in Kashmir, interacts with Kashmir University students
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi arrived here on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. On the first day he visited Kargil district, and later, after his return, interacted with the students of Kashmir University here.
IN THE afternoon, Rahul reached Kashmir University Convocation Complex where he interacted with the students for more than an hour. The media was barred to enter Kashmir University due to unknown reason. During the interaction with students, sources said Rahul faced queries from students on various issues ranging from lack of employment opportunities in Kashmir to harassment of Kashmiri students in outside states.
"I'm not here to make a political speech. I've come to learn and understand how best I can help the people here," he said. "My grandmother was killed when I was just 14 and my father was killed when I was 21. Pain and suffering is not something I cannot understand."
Reports said students raised the issue of harassment of Kashmiris in outside states with Rahul. "It isn't only complaint of Kashmiris, but such problems are with so many people of the country. People of Bihar have similar complaints when they go to Mahrashtra," he told students.
The controversy, which had erupted after reports that Rahul will launch a membership drive for Youth Congress in the KU had been cleared by his secretary Meenakshi Natrajan yesterday. "Rahul himself is against using the educational institutions for political benefits. However, he is visiting KU on the invitation of the university administration," she said. After his interaction with the students, Rahul paid obeisance at the nearby Hazratbal Shrine, which houses the holy relic of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Earlier, he addressed a large gathering at the public park in Kargil town of Ladakh region.
Rahul promised to use his clout to have the much-hyped tunnel made across the Zojilla Pass in Ladakh, which would ensure that the desert region of the state remains connected with the rest of the country year round.
Later, in the evening, Rahul convened a meeting of Youth Congress leaders and sarpanches. Rahul urged the youth leaders to strengthen the party at grass roots level and avoid any confrontation within the party ranks. He asked them to enroll those youths in the membership drive who are honest, dedicated and would make the Congress strong in J&K.
"It was dream of my father Rajiv Gandhi to make Congress strong in J&K and you have to fulfill that," he told the youth Congress leaders. In his meeting with panches and sarpanches Rahul assured them he would take up the issue of allotment of funds to the pannchayats with the concerned ministry soon. Rahul was accompanied by PCC President Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, PHE Minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Agriculture Minister G H Mir.
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