Patna, Dec. 29: The state's political icons - Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Jitan Ram Manjhi - were not on Pappu Yadav's lips today.

Rather the controversial RJD MP from Madhepura took the names of Ford Motor founder Henry Ford, Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, 16th US President Abraham Lincoln and Nobel laureates Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai to motive the youths.

Pappu, acquitted by the high court in the murder case of CPM leader Ajit Sarkar last year, dropped the names of icons of non-political arenas, explaining before 5,000 youths how the personalities like Ford, Rowling, Lincoln, Malala and Satyarthi brought about changes in people's lives. Addressing the Yuva Samvad function, he called upon the youths to choose the leaders who could fight against corrupt system and ensure them better education and jobs.

The show made it abundantly clear that Pappu was steadfastly pursuing his ambition to emerge as the leader beyond the Kosi-Seemanchal region he hails from.

'After getting struck by 17 bullets, Malala had only two options - either to surrender before terrorism or to fight against terror. She chose the second one. She did not resort to casteism and communalism to drive home her point. She spoke against what ailed the humanity. In the state's context, we should look for the leader who could remove the impediments from the way of the youths,' Pappu said.

The SK Memorial Hall was packed to capacity. People were standing and listening to him. Two projectors had been set up at vantage points to help the youths listen what Pappu was sermonising.

The programme was organised by Yuva Shakti formed by Pappu. His party, the RJD has disowned this outfit. RJD MLA from Jagdishpur Assembly seat Dinesh Kumar Singh, known as a close aide of Pappu was present on the dais along with two speakers Om Gupta and Professor Rakesh Kumar who were invited to interact with the youths.

'You are people who can change the system. The youths constitute over six crore of the state's populace. I am interacting with you in order to address your issues. I am not here to play the caste and communal cards that many leaders have used venue to play for their political goals,' Pappu said.