Rahul meets Muslim intellectuals, discusses public policy (Lead, correcting para 4)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met Muslim intellectuals as part of party's outreach to various sections ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha election. They gave

Those who met Gandhi to give their feedback on various issues and discuss "public policy" included M.S Farooqui, Amir Mohammad, Irfan Habib, Syeda Hameed, Ilyas Malik, Rakhshanda Jalil, Junaid Rehman, Farah Naqvi and others.

Congress Minority Department Chairman Nadeem Javed was also present at the meeting.

"A number of lawyers, historians and university intellectuals met Rahul Gandhi and discussed public policy with him," party leader Salman Khurshid told reporters.

"They gave their feedback to the leader on different areas they are involved in. Hope more such interactions will take place in future," he added.

On Gandhi meeting selective intellectuals, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is selective when he chooses to meet his corporate friends but refuses to meet the farmers who protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi."

"This is a wrong comparison but I would only want to say that the Congress believes in development for all, inclusion of all, and equality for all.

"Our doors are open for everybody. The intellectuals who would want to wish to meet him, he (Gandhi) would be happy to meet them, he meets ambassadors of all the countries, diplomats from across the world, she said.

"He meets corporate friends from across the country, he meets women, people from MSMEs, fishermen, farmers of this country. His meetings are for everyone. His meetings are regular. He also meets 'Anganwadi' workers. I think there is no one, he does not meet," she added.

--IANS

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