Rahul Gandhi back in Orissa

After kicking off his ‘Discover India’ tour from Orissa a couple of months ago, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was back in the state on Tuesday, reports Soumyajit Pattnaik.

After kicking off his ‘Discover India’ tour from Orissa a couple of months ago, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was back in the state on Tuesday. His mission: to complete the "unfinished agenda" of giving Dalit and tribal youth their share in the Youth Congress leadership.

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Rahul interacted with Dalit and tribal youth leaders at two separate conventions in Cuttack. Later, Rahul told reporters: "There are many talented Dalit/tribal boys and girls who will get their due in the Congress."

In March, Rahul had visited the Nalco smelter plant at Angul. Workers had urged the Amethi MP to grant Navratna status to Nalco. In April, the Centre granted Nalco Navratna status. In Angul on Tuesday, Rahul said: "I’m surprised why Nalco had not been declared a Navratna earlier."

Asked about former Congress MP Akhilesh Das, who resigned from the party citing the coterie around Rahul, he said: "I’m not sure if the MP resigned because of coterie rule."