Rajsekharan exhorts youths to emulate Gandhian principles

Bangalore, Apr 22 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan today exhorted youths of the country to emulate the principles of Mahatma Gandhi to realise the father of the nation's dream of ensuring that India became a developed nation.

Inaugurating a national convention on 'Bharat Nirman' here, he said the need of the hour was to uphold moral, ethical and spiritual values in the nation building exercise. Unfortunately, the country had forgotten Gandhi and was facing various societal problems and violence. ''Had we followed the Gandhian principles, we would have seen a better India. More liquor flowed in major cities than drinking water,'' he rued.

The Minister said Mother India lived in villages and it was the duty of every Indian to ensure the growth of villages. It was in this direction that the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre had embarked on a time-bound 'Bharat Nirman' programme.

The Centre had identified six vital areas, including irrigation, electrification, housing and telecommunication, for creating rural infrastructural facilities in the next four years by spending an unprecedented amount, he added.

Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi and former Chief Justice of India V R Krishna Iyer also attended the convention.

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