Shun fear and be confident: Rahul urges youth

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday urged youth and students of the country to shun fear and be confident while facing problems.

"My vision is of fearless people in India. This is the kind of country I want to build. Be fully confident in anything you do," Gandhi told a young girl who said she harboured fears about speaking on anything in public.

The Congress leader was interacting with students of an engineering college in the tribal-dominated Dhule district of northern Maharashtra at the start of his two-day tour of the state.

He said India's youth were amongst the most talented in the world and that talent must be used for the betterment of the country.

When a youth expressed his admiration and wish to see Gandhi as the next prime minister, the Congress leader smiled and said it was not important whether he becomes the country's top leader or not, but the youth must join the political mainstream.

"I would like to see legislators and parliamentarians from amongst you in the next 10 years, especially from among the tribals, maybe even a prime minister," he said, asking them to take to public life and contribute towards nation-building.

Gandhi also cited the examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Adolf Hitler.

"People who lack confidence shout, but a confident person speaks softly. Did Gandhiji ever shout? No, because he had confidence, but Hitler shouted as he lacked self-confidence," Gandhi said.

Confidence should not be seen as aggression and humility was a sign of extreme self-confidence, he said.

Gandhi is scheduled to take part in a road show on the Dhule-Shirpur Road and later address a public rally in Aurangabad.

On Thursday, he is scheduled to interact with Koli fishermen at Versova beach in Mumbai and address a public rally in Sonale village, near Bhiwandi in adjoining Thane district.