Against the backdrop of Left parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party opposing the India-United States nuclear agreement, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that it was time India stops being scared of the agreement.
"On the Indo-US nuclear deal, my thinking is that in India we need not be scared or lack confidence in dealing with anything or anybody," Gandhi said while talking to students at the TMA Pai Institute.
Gandhi said other countries have now realised the strength of India. "I speak to foreign leaders and I get the sense that they have realised and recognised an united and confident India," he said.
On a campaign trail in poll-bound Karnataka, he said, "A united and confident India is the course for everyone, including students, the IT industry or the manufacturing industry."
Gandhi asked the student community to be the engine of advancement of the country and help to the poor. "Students like you are going to make us advanced and succeed. We can only advance if we have confidence," he said.
He said the need of the hour was to increase opportunities for the poor in the society and help them realise their dreams.
"Connect with the poor in India. We must open up opportunities for the poor so that they can dream the same dream which you and I do," Rahul said.
Gandhi stressed on the need to stop thinking of the poor as a burden and said they have a right to be empowered.
Hailing the United Progressive Alliance government for its pro-poor policies, Gandhi congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for being a channel of empowerment.
"I congratulate him for empowering the poor and enabling many. It is the only policy by which the country can progress," the Gandhi family scion said.
He said the need of the hour was two-fold--"to think unitedly as Indians and to expand opportunities for every one."