The future is Rahul Gandhi, declares Singh

The prime minister says the heir-apparent will take the nation to ‘new frontiers’ and ‘heights of glory’

NEW DELHI: Prime minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday showered praise on Congress Party’s heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi, saying he was confident that the 37-year-old leader would take the party and the nation to “new heights of glory”.

“I am confident that the young leaders of the Congress party like Rahul Gandhi can win the minds and affections of our youth and take the party and the nation to new frontiers and new heights of glory,” Singh said at the AIIC session in Delhi evoking chants of ‘Rahul Gandhi Zindabad’.

Singh advised the youngsters in the party to reach out to all regions and all those who suffer from poverty and hunger, helping Congress to fulfill the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. “...Give them (who suffer from poverty and hunger) a voice,” he said in his 50-minute speech.

The prime minister credited the Amethi MP, who was appointed party General Secretary two months ago, for “taking the initiative” for extending the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to all parts of the country, thus “enabling crores of rural families to secure employment and livelihood”.

Gandhi, who had played an important role in the Uttar Pradesh assembly campaign, is slated to play an important role in the party, including the upcoming Gujarat election.