Decentralise power and funds: Rahul

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today advocated decentralisation of power and funds to people at the grassroot level.

"There is an idea that control should be centralised with everything managed from Delhi, but there is another idea which, I believe, is that there should be decentralisation of power and funds," Gandhi said during an interaction with representatives of nine Autonomous Councils at the Karbi Anglong Sports Association stadium here.

Gandhi said he was in favour of giving power to more and more people at the grassroot level.

"It has been said that I speak about empowerment of women, but I do believe that 50 per cent power should be given to women, adivasi, dalit, physically-disabled and others so that they can make use of the various schemes initiated by us," he said in his ten-minute speech.

Decisions should also be taken by the people locally as decision taken in Delhi and Guwahati would lead to fighting among the people, he said.

"Correct information does not reach Delhi and as a consequence, schemes have flaws which lead to dissatisfaction among people," he said.

Gandhi arrived here amidst tight security as a 12-hour Karbi Anglong bandh has been called by nine organisations, including the Karbi Students' Association, in support of their long-standing demand for a separate state on the lines of Telangana.