Involve public in decisions: Rahul

Asks government to ensure better infrastructure, higher education in State

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers Vayalar Ravi, A.K. Antony and Shashi Tharoor, and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the valedictory function of Mr. Chennithala’s Kerala Yatra in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

The State should develop world class infrastructure and higher education system to emerge as a global business destination, apart from generating employment locally, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has said.

Addressing the valedictory function of the Kerala Yatra taken out by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala at the Central Stadium here on Saturday, Mr. Gandhi said the primary education system was exceptionally good in the State. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should ensure that Kerala had the best higher education system too, thus making it a role model for others.

Lauding the UDF government for developing infrastructure in the last two years and for laying the groundwork for Vizhinjam port, SmartCity, Kochi Metro, monorail and Kannur airport, Mr. Gandhi said “we will give all possible help from Delhi”.

He said the challenge of the 21 century was to bridge the gap between the politicians and the people and to involve the public more aggressively in the decision-making process. Mr. Gandhi praised Mr. Chandy for the mass contact programme in the State and Mr. Chennithala for reaching out to the people during the ‘yatra.’

Focus on the poor

The poor and the marginalised should never be ignored, he said, and called for special attention for SC, ST, fishermen and artisans. “Reach out to them, find their needs and deliver them,” he said.

Criticising the Opposition for stalling the Bill that ensures Right to Food for all, he said the United Progressive Alliance government was committed to passing the Bill in the Parliament. Mr. Gandhi said health care should be made affordable to the needy, adding that the policy of Congress was to make everyone part of progress.

As Congress vice-president, he said, his organisational responsibility was to ensure that the Congress worker got respect and that his/her interests were looked after in the party.

“The Opposition here is unleashing violence on the Congress party. The world has given up Communism. Even the Chinese have a different view of Communism. The Soviet Union no longer exists, neither does Communism in Russia,” he said, urging the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to examine why the ideology had failed, and why they were holding on it though it no longer worked.