Rahul asks tribal youths in Maharashtra to join Cong

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today asked tribal youths in Maharashtra’s Naxal-hit Gadchiroli district to join the party, provided they followed the Congress ideology and did not have any criminal background.

“The doors of the Youth Congress are open and anyone irrespective of caste, creed and religion can join, provided he follows Congress ideology and has no criminal background,” Gandhi said while interacting with the youths.

The Congress leader’s three-day visit to Maharashtra coincides with a campaign by the party’s state unit to boost its membership drive among the backward castes.

“If you are interested in developing the area, garner support from locals and get elected as an MLA instead of blaming the incompetent MLA,” he added.

Gandhi insisted that merit would be only criterion to get the party ticket. “Those who work hard for strengthening the party organisation have better prospects,” he said.

The Congress is believed to have lost its grip over its traditional bastions including Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Bhandara.

Last month, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had visited the border district asking the state government to step up efforts to curb Naxalite activities, a state Congress leader, who was accompanying Gandhi, told Business Standard.

Rahul also visited the Buldhana district, where farmer suicides are on the rise, and addressed a meeting of the other backward classes.