Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jan 19: Union minister of state in the department of petroleum and natural gas, Jitin Prasada, has called upon the youngsters to join active politics, and take part in the nation building activities, instead of whiling away time, ridiculing and finding fault with the present-day politicians.
He was addressing the participants of a programme organized by the district unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) to celebrate 125th anniversary of Indian National Congress, here on Monday January 18.
“Politics is not a subject limited to a few people. MP, Rahul Gandhi, has been encouraging the young people to join the Congress Party, with the objective of ensuring that every one gets an opportunity to be a part of it. Congress Party has never used the youngsters as mere vote bank, but instead, they are being given proper representation and power. This is the reason why Congress Party has a large number of young MPs,” he explained.
Former union minister, Oscar Fernandes, inaugurated the programme. In his inaugural address, Oscar felt that the youngsters of the country have the opportunity to constructively engage in nation building. Noting that India is the country with the highest number of young people and a large number of intelligent citizens, he advised the youths to have a clear idea about the way they have treaded so far, the path they are moving on now and also about their future goals. He also asked them to study the past history, to be able to chalk out their present and the future plans on a sound foundation.
Ex union minister, B Janardhan Poojary, presided. Former MP, Vinay Kumar Sorake, in his address, advised the NSUI activists to always be vigilant about the forces that try to vitiate the communal harmony and to divide the country. He exhorted them to take cudgel against the social evils.
MLAs, U T Khader and Abhaychandra Jain, Womens’ Congress district president, Mamata Gatti, Blossom Fernandes, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary, Manjunath Bhandary, Udupi district Congress president M A Gafoor, Youth Congress district president, Arun Coelho, Suresh Ballal, Ivan D’Souza, Bondala Jagannath Shetty, B A Moideen Bawa etc., were present.
NSUI district president, Tejaswiraj, welcomed. Manikya Raj proposed vote of thanks. Razak presented the programme.
A competition of patriotic songs had been organized on the occasion. A short skit on ‘India – yesterday, today and tomorrow’, was also staged.