Digvijay for handing over power to youth in Congress

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh today pitched for handing over power to the youth in the organisation, saying there is "no option" as the party is "facing challenges" in the backdrop of its drubbing in the recent Assembly polls.
Singh's remarks come in the backdrop of a renewed buzz in the Congress circles about Rahul Gandhi's sooner than later elevation as party president.
"Now, we have to hand over power to the youth and there is no option. When I spoke about major surgery, some people had objections. But the power should go in the hands of youth and this is a necessity from the party's point of view," Singh said.

He was speaking at a function organised to mark 25th death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. The programme started with Vande Mataram and chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai.
Singh said youth forms a major chunk of the population and with benefits from the reservations over the years many have been elevated to the middle class. He also emphasised on the need to understand the "aspirations" of youth and the middle class.
Asserting that the party was facing "challenges", he said there was a need to take on them.

Youths are believed to have played a major role in the victory of Narendra Modi in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. One of the criticism of Rahul Gandhi after the loss of the Congress in the general elections was that the party vice-president failed to enthuse the young voters.

Attacking the BJP, he said the it was wearing the "mask of nationalism", but its "real face" is like British policy of divide and rule.
"The BJP and Modi ji are trying to take credit these days, but the pillar of the modern India is Rajiv Gandhi.
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He also accused the BJP of "usurping" the legacy of leaders like Vallabhbhai Patel, B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Subash Chandra Bose.
"They wear the mask of nationalism, but their real face is like the British policy of divide and rule. They make use of religion in politics," Singh said, alleging that currently the "seeds of hatred, rumours are being spread through social media".

He said that the Congress party is often accused of appeasing the minorities, but the party will work to protect the interests of 16 crore minority population if there is any injustice.
The Congress general secretary said he is a strong votary of conducting polls in the Youth Congress and noted that it is important to expand this wing of the party.
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Singh said the BJP wants to appropriate Gandhi, Bose and Ambedkar. But they were all opposed to the RSS.
In an attempt to give pep talk to the workers after polls drubbing Congress leader Kuamri Selja said "Anyone can ask for a change after 15 years. We couldn't form the government in Assam and Kerala. What is that we don't have? We have leaders, policy and intent (so don't lose hope).