AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi has shown that he will not be cowed down by Shiv Sena threats, Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan said, referring to the Congress leader's train journey today.
Chavan was speaking at a function organised by the Mumbai Youth Congress at the Ramabai Nagar colony in Ghatkopar.
"Mumbai belongs to all. Despite Sena's threat to Rahul, he travelled by train and showed that he is not afraid of threats," Chavan said at the meeting. Rahul arrived in Ghatkopar, an eastern suburb by train.
He took a train from Andheri to Dadar after interacting with college students at Bhaidas Hall in Vile Parle and changed to Central Line at Dadar to proceed to Ghatkopar.
The meeting at Ramabai Nagar comprising 500 slum youths, self help groups, NGOs and social workers lasted for about 25 minutes. Earlier, Rahul garlanded the statue of BR Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution.
Sanjay Thakur, vice president of the Mumbai Youth Congress told reporters that Rahul gave details to the gathering about the process of "democratisation" of the Youth Congress through its internal elections.
"We want to give a chance to grassroots people to rise in politics," Rahul said. Rajesh Dayal from the Blind Welfare Association of India said he gave a memorandum to Rahul seeking representation for the physically challenged in the Youth Congress.
Rahul responded positively and invited him to Delhi for further discussion on this issue, he said. Diksha Jagtap, Mumbai president of the Maharashtra Niradhar Devdasi Women's Organisation said that she asked Rahul to work to increase the pension for destitute women from the present Rs 350 per month to Rs2,000.
Bhagwan Kesbhat of Yuva organisation said that he was disappointed with the meeting. "We were invited by the Youth Congress to discuss issues facing the youth. But, Rahul only spoke about the Youth Congress and its internal elections," he said.
