SHILLONG: The Congress President, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday assured that the Congress party would respect and protect the culture as well as their way of thinking of the local people of the state
Interacting with the host during “Celebration of Peace” concert organised at the 5th Polo ground here on Wednesday night, Gandhi said that his message for the youth of Shillong and for the youth of the country was that India’s strength lied in its diverse culture, different languages and ways of thinking.
“We are the strongest when all of us stand together in diversity,” he said even as he added that every state including Meghalaya had an equal space in India’s dreams and aspirations and no matter how small the state was, every single Indian’s dreams and aspirations should be given equal importance.
“My message is that be proud of your heritage, language, culture , your religion and we will stand and we will defend your culture and your way of thinking,” he said
Rahul Gandhi, without naming any person or political party maintained that it was important for all to realise that India was strong when everyone loved and respected others.
“When we fight and spread hatred, we are not strengthening our country but we are weakening it and we are disrespecting our people, past and future,” he said.
He added that though he came here on an election campaign but it did not feel like an election campaign since he has always received the love from the people of the state and the region as a whole.
Gandhi also assured that he would come to Meghalaya on an extended period and would travel to different parts of the state to understand the dreams and aspirations of the youths.
Earlier, Gandhi wearing a winter jacket and blue denims in the concert said that he liked the programme though it was cold.
He also said that he was a generalist as far as music was concerned and he listens to almost any music.
During the programme, different bands from Shillong performed a variety of music numbers and a crowd of around 6000-7000 were present at the programme.
Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma, AICC General Secretary, CP Joshi, Shillong MP Vincent Pala, Ampareen Lyngdoh, David Nongrum besides senior party leaders were also present in the programme.
