Kashmiris back Rahul Gandhi's corporate push

Srinagar - Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's push for corporate investment in Kashmir to generate employment has been well-received by the youth here.

While the media hype surrounding the visit of top corporate bosses here might not be matched with the enthusiasm of the local youths, the over two-hour long interactive session at the Kashmir university's auditorium Friday was a grand success.

The concerns of local students regarding their future dominated the session, as each question asked was focused on their desire for a better tomorrow.

Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, said his company would soon get in touch with the university authorities to start internship programmes "in Kashmir, for Kashmiris and by Kashmiris".

In another session with local entrepreneurs, where Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present, Tata made another important comment. "Rahul Gandhi has not only opened a window, but a door for the country's corporate sector to invest in Kashmir," he said.

While Rajiv Bajaj of Bajaj Auto Ltd promised another visit to the university in December, Deepak Parekh, chairman of HDFC, said his bank would ensure credit flow into the Valley.

Ashok Reddy, CMD of Team Lease, announced that his firm would provide job consultancy and placement service through innovation centres in the state.

Rahul Gandhi walked the extra mile to strike a chord with Kashmiris.

"My family comes from Kashmir... I am also a Kashmiri," he said at the foundation laying ceremony of the ambitious Rs.2,680 crore tunnel project across the Zojilla Pass.

Union Minister for Road Transport C.P. Joshi laid the foundation of the project.

During Rahul Gandhi's two-day visit starting Thursday, the separatists did not call for a shutdown in the state, although a small group of students raised slogans inside the campus when a brainstorming session was on in the packed Kashmir university auditorium.

What perhaps went unnoticed was that Rahul Gandhi did not talk politics during his visit.

Speaking to over 2,500 elected village heads, who had gathered in Srinagar to demand security and honorarium, Rahul said he would take up the issues with the prime minister and the state government.

Rahul also steered clear of repeating the Congress demand for extension of constitutional amendments 73rd and 74th to Jammu and Kashmir to empower the village heads.

In a nutshell, the visit has given a newfound hope to the younger generation of Kashmiris here.

What remains to be seen is that how quickly the promises of setting up internship programmes, campus placements and innovation centres for the Kashmiri youth are fulfilled by India Inc.