Mumbai: AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi
has shown that he will not be cowed down by Shiv Sena threats,
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said, referring to the
Congress leader's train journey today.
Chavan was speaking at a function organised by the Mumbai
Youth Congress at the Ramabai Nagar colony in Ghatkopar.
"Mumbai belongs to all. Despite Sena's threat to Rahul,
he travelled by train and showed that he is not afraid of
threats," Chavan said at the meeting.
Rahul arrived in Ghatkopar, an eastern suburb by train.
He took a train from Andheri to Dadar after interacting with
college students at Bhaidas Hall in Vile Parle and changed to
Central Line at Dadar to proceed to Ghatkopar.
The meeting at Ramabai Nagar comprising 500 slum youths,
self help groups, NGOs and social workers lasted for about 25
minutes. Earlier, Rahul garlanded the statue of B R Ambedkar,
the architect of Indian Constitution.
Sanjay Thakur, Vice President of the Mumbai Youth
Congress told reporters that Rahul gave details to the
gathering about the process of "democratisation" of the Youth
Congress through its internal elections.
"We want to give a chance to grassroots people to rise in
politics," Rahul said.
Rajesh Dayal from the Blind Welfare Association of
India said he gave a memorandum to Rahul seeking
representation for the physically challenged in the Youth
Congress.
Rahul responded positively and invited him to Delhi
for further discussion on this issue, he said.
Diksha Jagtap, Mumbai president of the Maharashtra
Niradhar Devdasi Women's Organisation said that she asked
Rahul to work to increase the pension for destitute women
from the present Rs 350 per month to Rs 2,000.
Bhagwan Kesbhat of Yuva organisation said that he was
disappointed with the meeting.
"We were invited by the Youth Congress to discuss
issues facing the youth. But, Rahul only spoke about the Youth
Congress and its internal elections," he said.
-PTI
First Published: Friday, February 05, 2010, 18:16