Rahul calls upon UP youths to get away with caste concept

Muzaffarnagar, UP, Mar 19 (UNI) Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi today urged the people, especially youths, to rise above caste and religion concept to bring Uttar Pradesh out of the ''murky situation'' it experienced in the last 15 years.

Parties in the last decade-and-a-half have divided UP on the basis of caste and religion and exploited people without working for development in the state, Mr Gandhi said.

He said, ''The Congress wants to bring fresh air of an equal society that would see involvement of people from all the sections and bring about a sea change in the development of the state.'' Addressing a rally of about 10000 people, supported by the Mahendra Singh Tikait-led Bharti Kisan Union on the second day of his three-day tour of Western UP to campaign for the Assembly elections, he said the youths alone could bring about a sea change in the fortunes of the state.

''You will be doing this and not me. Rahul will only stand by you. I want you to join me and the Congress is bringing about a new era in UP and the new beginning in the lives of people,'' Mr Gandhi said.

BKU leader Rakesh Singh Tikait, son of Mr Mahendra Singh Tikait, said the union will be jointly fighting the elections with the Congress.

UNI