Youth should not shy away from politics, but take the plunge to cleanse it with good leadership, said P.A. Sangma, former Speaker of Lok Sabha, here on Saturday.
Delivering the valedictory address at the National Youth Conference organised by the All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) to commemorate its 90{+t}{+h}anniversary at St. Joseph’s College, Mr. Sangma said that politics was normally described as “dirty”.
If it was so, youth should clean it, instead of allowing it to remain “dirty”.
India would have the youngest population by 2020 compared to other countries in the world.
The average age of workforce in India by 2020 would be 29 while it would be 37 in the U.S. and China, 48 in Japan and 45 in whole of Europe. “This is an opportunity and youth should utilise this opportunity and provide leadership,” Mr. Sangma said.
As an AICUF member, he used to visit hospitals and jails and do service in Meghalaya and Assam.
“We used to teach hygiene to village people,” Mr. Sangma recalled and appealed to youth to visit hospitals and jails and render service to people.
“AICUF is the right platform to do service,” he added. He expressed concern over recent instances of atrocities against minorities and burning of churches.
He was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the AICUF.
S. John Britto, Rector; S. Raja, Deputy Principal of St. Joseph’s College; and A. Vimal Gerald, Conference Organising Secretary, spoke.
