Bhubaneswar: Vowing to strengthen internal democracy and change the functioning in the youth and student wings of the Congress, its youth icon Rahul Gandhi today asked the young generation to join politics in the "greater interest" of the nation.

"Politics is the best possible means for service to the nation ... I assure internal democracy in youth and student wings of Congress. No one will face discrimination in the party on the basis of caste, gender or economic standing. Doors are open for young people," Gandhi, a general secretary of the party, said replying to a query of a girl student of a college.

He admitted that youths were not getting due importance in different political parties in the country. "The youths who actually work for the masses do not get promotion." Gandhi, who was interacting with students on the last leg of his four-day Orissa visit, which was part of his "Discover India" tour, said some get promotion from the party rank and file due to "some other reasons" - a remark which drew loud applause from the audience mostly comprising college students.

He also announced that he would affect immediate changes in the leadership of student and youth wings of the party in Orissa after some youths expressed their displeasure over the present leadership. Narrating his tour experience in the state, Rahul said education still remained a distant dream in Orissa. "I found only one college degree holder in a village of 8,000."

Defying security arrangements, Rahul mingled with students waiting for him in the heat at the OUAT campus here. To a query from a student, Rahul Gandhi said it was the youth which could bring changes in the present day politics. "You are the future of India. Come and join us."

Source : PTI