New Delhi, Feb 20 (PTI) Reaching out to civil society,

professionals and intellectuals ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls, Congress today held an interaction programme with doctors, lawyers and university professors to connect them with party ideology. "There is a need to take intellectual activism forward along with dissemination of ideas of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to the common masses since it is necessary for developing a secular, socialist and democratic India," AICC Vichar Vibhag Chairman Girija Vyas said. She was speaking at a meeting which also highlighted the achievements of the UPA government in last nine years. "The purpose of the event was to associate more intellectuals with the ideology of the Congress and to spread the achievements of the UPA Government to the common people in the forthcoming Assembly and Parliamentary Elections," an AICC press release said. AICC treasurer Motilal Vora said Congress will be strengthened only if intellectuals come forward and spread the history of the party among the common people. Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal emphasised the need for proper utilisation of resources for inclusive democratic development underlining the need to bring revolutionary changes in different sectors. Through the exercise at the party headquarters, the 'Vichar Vibhagh' will embark on an elaborate nationwide programme to connect with lawyers, doctors, professors and intellectuals at the state and the district levels in the coming months.