On a visit to the Valley, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday struck an emotional chord with Kashmir University students, saying he understands the “pain” of Kashmiris as he was a Kashmiri himself.
Addressing around 1,000 students at the University’s convention centre, the 41-year-old AICC General Secretary said he also understood the language of violence as his family had been a victim of violence.
“I am a Kashmiri as a lot of you people must be aware. So the pain and the suffering of this place is my suffering as well,” Mr. Gandhi said, evoking applause from the students who had gathered for an interaction with him.
ADVERTISEMENT
After his introduction by Kashmir University Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmed, Mr. Gandhi gave his own introduction and said his approach was to connect with the youth.
“When I was 14, I was sitting in class inattentive when a lady walked to me and said there was a call. I received the call and told that my grandmother (Indira Gandhi) had been shot dead. Few years later my father (Rajiv Gandhi) was also killed.
“People who have suffered because of violence can understand the pain of violence,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The students posed many questions about the level of violence in the Valley to which Mr. Gandhi gave a patient hearing.
Students spoke about the lack of jobs and also virtual absence of multi-nationals in the State.
Mr. Gandhi said the MNCs had some minimum basic requirements which required to be fulfilled but as far as other business houses are concerned, there was a need for having a congenial atmosphere for their functioning.
“I will send a delegation of young businessmen. My responsibility is to send them to you and your responsibility is to convince them how they could set up their business in the valley.”