Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday called on the Congress Party leadership to field youths in 50 percent of the 272 parliament seats that are up for grabs during the April-May 2014 general elections.
Addressing a session of the All India Congress Committee at the Talkatora Stadium here, Chidambaram said: "I feel that in atleast 272 Parliament seats, the Congress must field candidates who are below the age of 35 years."
He further went on to say that the Congress is not a party that fades when not in power.
"Every milestone, every legislation in India, was done, made or passed when we (the Congress) were standing guard," said Chidambaram
"I challenge any party to point out any other time when we have achieved this level of growth," the Finance Minister said while referring to the performance of the Indian economy during the two spells of UPA rule between 2004 and 2014.
He also rubbished observations that some were more equal than others in India, especially when it came to economic indices.
"Everyone is equal for the Congress. Our idea of India is that everyone is equal. Growth leads to inclusive development and everyone gets social justice," Chidambaram said.
"Growth has always been 'inclusive' in the UPA regime. We believe in inclusive development. India has achieved the highest ever growth rate in the last ten years under the UPA," the Finance Minister maintained.
Earlier, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said there was a face hidden behind the mask of compassion of the opposition, and added that communal forces were a threat to the nation.
"Communal forces a great danger to our nation. Divisive forces are stretching social fabric to the breaking point, but Congress believes in uniting the nation," said Gandhi.
"The opposition's way is to spread disharmony. There's a face hidden behind the mask of compassion and we will face upcoming challenges with a lot of determination," she said.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting has been organized to strategize the party's move ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election, and will also be deciding the role of Rahul Gandhi.
Senior Congress leader Janardhan Dwivedi on Thursday had said that there was a discussion on Rahul Gandhi as many felt he should be named the party's prime ministerial candidate, however president Sonia Gandhi intervened in between, saying that 'it is not the tradition of the Congress that just because some party has declared their candidate, doesn't mean we should too'.
However there was consensus at the AICC meeting that the Congress campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be led by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
"This meeting of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) declares that 2014 General Elections campaign will be led by Rahul Gandhi," Dwivedi told media after the Congress Party meeting.
Dwivedi also quoted Rahul as saying, "I am loyal party worker. I will carry out whatever responsibility is given to me.
