`Make Cong a cadre-based party'

PATNA: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi sang paeans to the youth of Bihar who, he said, are gifted with enormous potentialities and can bring about a turnaround in respect of the state's growth and prosperity.
Addressing a conference of minority youths here, the young Congress leader did not for once mention the attacks on Biharis in other parts of the country.He, however, said no one could deny the contribution of Biharis towards economic rejuvenation of other states.
"You only need to look within and introspect why your own state has lagged behind during the last twenty years," he told the gathering while reminding it of the fact that Bihar contributed handsomely to the IAS and IPS cadres.
The Congress' youth icon, during his 50-minute stay at Asfaquallah Stadium at Khagra, said the party would henceforth not impose candidates and leaders on people. "Work sincerely and with dedication to make the Congress a cadre-based party," he said.
Responding to a question of one Khalid Ansari, the Amethi MP said PM Manmohan Singh is very much concerned about the implementation of the recommendations of Sachar Commission. He, however, made it clear that there is absolutely no place for fundamentalists like SIMI and RSS in the party. "Nor people with criminal records would get any place in the party," he said.
In reply to another query, Rahul regretted while states like UP and Orissa have already made lands available for extension units of Aligarh Muslim University, Bihar, as usual, continues to falter.
Former Union minister and in-charge of party's Bihar affairs Jagdish Tytler and state Congress chief Anil Sharma were also present in the stadium.
A section of party workers from Katihar, Saharsa and Purnia were thoroughly dissatisfied as they could not be accommodated despite possessing passes.
The Congress leader, who was half an hour behind schedule, could not take many questions from the participants. "I was waiting in great excitement to have answers to my queries about the plight of minorities but in vain," rued Azhar Rahmani of Kishanganj.
But Mukund Bihari of Raniganj (Araria) was on cloud nine. He moved a pad and pen for Rahul's autograph, and Rahul took the pen and scribbled his name on his palm.