Ahluwalia speaks on flip side of politics - Darjeeling BJP MP attends youth convention

Zubeen Garg performs at the youth festival in Guwahati on Thursday night. Picture by UB Photos

RAJIV KONWAR, TT, Guwahati, Jan. 9: Politics might have brought BJP’s national vice-president S.S. Ahluwalia closer to many people but it has left him “untouchable” among his own family members.

The BJP MP from Darjeeling, who holds the post of chairperson of the parliamentary committee on privileges, regaled the participants of the 19th National Youth Convention this morning with snippets from his life.

“Among my predecessors nobody was in politics, they all were technocrats. I alone joined it. My children have become professionals and not inclined to join politics. Sometimes I feel my family treats me like an untouchable. When I became Union minister, nobody, including my wife, came to attend the oath-taking ceremony,” said Ahluwalia while explaining to the youths that achieving something in life was the outcome of one’s own dream and endeavour.

Ahluwalia attended a youth convention, a part of the festival, at the auditorium of Don Bosco School and talked on Youth Parliament. Over 500 youths participated and interacted in the daylong convention, which was also attended by MPs R.P. Sarma, Prem Das Rai, Gaurav Gogoi and Kamakyha Prasad Tasa.

Citing reports of the International Labour Organisation, Ahluwalia told the participants that India has the largest population of youths in the world. He said as 66 per cent of the country’s population is below 35 years of age, the future of the country depends on them.

Ahluwalia appealed to the youths to become conscious about their fundamental duties so that they can contribute more to the growth of the nation. “Do not think only what you can get from the country. Think what you can give to the country. Read not only about fundamental rights but also about the fundamental duties,” he said.

The youths, on their part asked questions ranging from whether there should be minimum qualification criteria for becoming an MP to parliament’s failure in making stringent law to punish rapists.

Youths participated in folk dance contest, one-act play, classical dance and other events like food festival, young artiste camp and adventure camp at different venues in the city.

Last evening, singers Zubeen Garg, Zublee and Manas Robin entertained the participants with their performances at Nehru Stadium.

Angaraag (Papon) Mahanta and Alka Yagnik will attend the cultural programmes on Saturday and Sunday.