Rahul Gandhi with Congress’s Jharkhand in-charge K. Keshav Rao in Ranchi on Thursday. (Prashant Mitra)

Ranchi, Oct. 15: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today held Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh governments responsible for the Maoist menace.

“The problem originated from two factors. First, the state was not reaching out to the people. Secondly, it turned out to be a law and order problem since the government was not taking measures to uplift the poor,” he said at a news meet, after meeting the widow and children of slain inspector Francis Indwar. Rahul arrived in Jharkhand on Wednesday on a two-day visit to tour Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Chatra.

Rahul said all his efforts were focused on the power of the youth. “The idea is to create a democratically elected youth organisation which no other party has. It is a historical step,” he said.

During his two-day visit, Rahul attended seven closed-door meetings in Sahebganj, Dumka, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Chatra and Jamshedpur with tribal youths. “Before Youth Congress polls in Tamil Nadu, there were hardly 50,000 members. Now, we have 14.5 lakh members there. If India has to prosper, the youth has to come forward. We are bringing transparency in politics,” he said.

True to declarations, Rahul spent time with 600 youths from various colleges, including BIT Mesra, at a meeting held with prospective members of the Youth Congress at Mecon community hall.

“Jholachhap netas (uneducated leaders) can no longer decide the fate of engineers and doctors. We want to choose our own leaders,” said Abhishek, a BIT Mesra student.

An inspired MBA student of SN Sinha Institute of Business Management, Anamika, said she would first work in rural areas before getting a job. “Before taking up any job, we have to create a place in people’s heart. Why not take up politics?” she said.

Gandhi also took a dig at the Opposition’s criticism of his visits to meet the poor. “I go to the poor to understand their problems. You can not know the reality sitting in your drawing room,” he said.

On the issue of price rise, he said it was a cyclical phenomenon. “The state has the responsibility to rein in price rise. Our ideology is focused on the aam admi,” he said.

Applauding the role of NREGA and Right to Information, he said Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh had performed wonderfully.

“The central government designs a programme and pumps in funds. But it is the state’s responsibility to implement it effectively. For example, Mayawati dubbed the NREGA programme absurd,” he pointed out.

Asked about the fate of NREGA in Jharkhand where the Congress supported the Madhu Koda government, Gandhi was on the defensive. “There is a difference between a Congress government and a Congress-supported government,” he pointed out.

He also ducked a question over weak party organisation in the state, saying there are capable leaders, particularly in the Youth Congress.