Rahul Gandhi says cases like killing of Yashwant Sonawane should not recur

Expressing shock over the murder of an additional collector in Maharashtra by the oil mafia, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said such incidents should not recur and stringent action should be taken in corruption cases within six months.

Gandhi, who is on the last leg of his three day Maharashtra visit, said collective efforts are needed to tackle corruption.

"We need to look into why this happening and we need to ensure this does not happen again," he said.

To a query on a report by retired IAS officer Leena Mehendale, who had filed a detailed report on fuel adulteration in the state 15 years ago, Gandhi said, "The way I see this is that corruption is a serious issue."

"We have to look into this issue in a collective way. Stringent action against corruption is needed. Punishment should be within six months, instead of 20 years," he said, adding, "We in Congress have taken stern action against corruption".

On the issue of black money stashed abroad, he said, "We should put in as much efforts as possible to ensure that what is India's money, what is people's money, comes back."

To a query, Gandhi said, "I never made connection between coalition and price rise."

In the political process, he said, "The real challenge for us is to open the doors to youngsters. We have started a democratic process in the Youth Congress. There is not a single nominated person. This is the way ahead."

"What disturbs me is that everybody points to corruption but few people actually look at the political system where the problem lies," he said.

The Congress leader said he knew there are many youngsters who look at politics and say that is not for us.

"My request to youngsters who are educated and talented is to take a look at Youth Congress website. Come and help me build the structure," he said.

"I need ten years of your life. Give me ten years of your life and after that you will be very proud."

On his 'so-called image building exercise', Gandhi said, "People say when I meet farmer's widow Kalawati (in Vidarbha), or go to a Uttar Pradesh village or take a train ride (in Mumbai), it creates an image."

"You don't understand what I understand and learn by going there. I go among people..henceforth, I will go among them even more. I get to learn what is happening on the ground," he said.

"The work I am doing..its effect will be felt in five, 10 years," Gandhi said, adding, "Youth who so far never came to politics, have now come here in thousands," he said.

"There has been enough talk. Now what is needed is work," he said, adding "we have to start looking at the system. What is there is the system which is creating the problem".

Changes in political system is coming from the grassroots and in the panchayat system...a new youth is being created, he said.

Noting that the Lyngdoh Commission has given strict guidelines on how college and university polls should be held, Gandhi said, "I am for elections in universities and parties".

Condemning terrorism and violence, Rahul said, "There is no religion in the world which recommends murder of innocent people and no religion which teaches to kill innocent people."