Yechury calls on youth to contribute to nation building

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) CPI(M) polit bureau member and a former president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) Sitaram Yechury has called on the younger generation to pitch in with their own contribution to the society.

''India is the youngest country in the world while most of the western countries are on their way out, so this is the time to capitalise on the historic opportunity we are provided with,'' he said here last evening, while addressing a public meeting of the Students Federation of India (SFI) in the run up to the forthcoming Students Union elections.

Quoting the ''avant-garde'' political scientist Paul Sweezy, he said that the true intellectual is one who assesses the contribution made towards the social upliftment of his fellow beings.

Commenting on the present political scenario, Mr Yechury said that the Left is honouring its mandate by putting consistent pressure on the UPA to stick to people-oriented policies. All sections of society should come forward to strengthen the hands of the Left which alone can create an egalitarian society,'' he exhorted.

Taking a dig at the newly formed Youth for Equality, also in the fray for the first time, he termed them a ''confused lot'' and noted that the historic oppression against the marginalised sections must be undone before the conception of any society based on equality.

Later replying to a query on reservation for minorities, he said that in view of the reports coming about the findings of the Sachar Committee, efforts must be undertaken on a ''war footing'' for assimilating the minority community into the mainstream, which can only happen if there is economic empowerment of the community.

Defending the West Bengal government on the SEZ issue, Mr Yechury termed it an inevitable part of industrialisation, but asserted the basic idea is to compensate the people, who have been affected by the land takeover, in a fair manner.

''West Bengal has given the displaced people 52 per cent over and above the market price of the land along with employment to one member of each displaced family in the upcoming enterprise, which is the best compensatory package in the country. Even the agricultural labourers have been looked after in the scheme,'' he said.

Fondly remebering his days in JNU, the three-time students union president proudly recalled the genesis of the slogan of ''Study and Struggle''which became the progenitor of student struggles throughout the country.

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