Congress student wing NSUI to mobilise youth in 2014 polls

NSUI Two day National Convention "Udaan"

A resurgent Congress' student wing National Students Union of India NSUI under party Vice President Rahul Gandhi is likely to play a crucial role in assisting the parent party Congress in the 2014 polls, keeping in mind that a large section includes first time voters. Several union Cabinet ministers including Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sachin Pilot today addressed "Udaan" the National Convention of the NSUI which was held after a gap of seven years. Having proved its credentials at the recently concluded, Gujarat University elections, where it defeated the BJP's student wing ABVP winning 15 of the 24 seats in the fray, the Congress intends to utilize its student wing to spread awareness of the achievements of the Congress led UPA.

The two day convention being held at the Talkatora stadium in the capital, will be addressed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi tomorrow. Significantly, Gandhi met up with the winning candidates to personally congratulate them earlier this week.

The student wing which has injected 'democratisation' into the party structure at the behest of Rahul Gandhi; (prior to being appointed VP, Gandhi was General secretary incharge of NSUI and Youth Congress) highlighted its programmes such as 'RTI karyashalas', 'Vidyarthi Panchayats' and video campuses.

Chidambaram answering queries put to him by NSUI today critiqued the judiciary for dragging its feet on corruption. The FM said, "Judges lecture the government every day. But let me say with humility, the failure to punish the corrupt is entirely the responsibility of our judicial system. It is our judicial system that failed to punish the corrupt. Corruption cases drive on for 20-30 years. You take disciplinary action against government servants...It takes 10 years (to) find him guilty and you punish him. And finally the court will set it aside (the order) on some technical (grounds)."

Chidambaram went onto blame the Navy for the recent submarine mishap stating "I sincerely hope that the defence forces will learn a lesson and make sure that the money allotted to them is spent more wisely and more efficiently on essential matters."

Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who also addressed the NSUI members urged them to disseminate UPA programmes among the public. Lambasting political parties and sections of the media for spreading misinformation about government achievements, Azad added, "BJP has become the party of an individual and it is also seeking votes in the name of an individual. When votes are sought in the name of an individual, it is dictatorship."

Throughout the day long convention, several NSUI activists including Hasiba Amin (made famous in the Rahul Gandhi television advertisement ), took to Twitter to post updates on the session. Most described Union minister Sachin Pilot speaking on 'Education the way forward' as "illuminating." MoS HRD Sashi Tharoor highlighted the contributions of the UPA vis a vis that of the NDA regime.

Mohan Gopal, part of the Rahul Gandhi think tank addressed the students on "student manifesto" section to be incorporated within the main Congress manifesto, a first for the Congress party.

Senior party leaders Digvijay Singh, Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik are slated to address the student wing tomorrow on issues ranging from "How to counter Opposition Propaganda to Offline and Online Campaign Strategy."