Whether I become PM or not is immaterial: Rahul Gandhi

Congress VP requested tribal youth to join mainstream politics

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today said whether he becomes the Prime Minister or not is immaterial but what matters is that all Indians, including women and youth, feel it is their country.

The Congress leader was interacting with tribal youth at an engineering college here, as he began his two-day Maharashtra tour.

Responding to best wishes from a youth for becoming the Prime Minister, Rahul said, "My becoming or not becoming PM does not matter. What is most important is that everyone here, specially women and youth in country feel that this is their own country."

Asking youth to enter mainstream politics, the Congress leader said there should not be even one youth who says he is afraid in his own country.

"I want to see MLAs, MLCs and MPs from amongst you in the next 10 years, maybe even a Prime Minister also," he said.

Comparing Mahatma Gandhi and Hitler, Rahul said the German dictator shouted as he lacked confidence. But did Gandhiji ever shout? That was because he was confident."

"Like Mahatma Gandhi, humbleness while speaking is a sign of extreme self-confidence. Confidence should not be seen as aggression," he said.

"There is no need for saying things aggressively. You can say it with love. Many people will be with you," he said.

"If anyone, be it Rahul Gandhi or Prithviraj Chavan, says he knows better than you, he is telling a lie," he said.

"My request to you, specially tribal youth, is to join mainstream politics," Rahul said.

"My message to the country's youth is that the talent and capability the youth here have is not there anywhere else," the Congress leader said.

On the progress the country has made since Independence, Rahul pointed out that today there were several rich people in India.

"Around 50 to 70 years ago there was not even a single rich person here. The only rich were maharajas and British," he said.