Congress President Rahul Gandhi interacted with intellectuals here on Saturday to know their views on burning problems of the country and possible solutions for them.
The discussion lasted for almost an hour and more than 40 intellectuals from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, including G N Devi, Rajendra Chenni and Siddanagouda Patil, attended it.
Briefing newsmen later, Chenni said the interaction was purely an apolitical one aimed at finding solutions for the people's problems.
"We are worried about the ways in which students are moving. Their minds are being corrupted and they are misguided. Besides, the lack of able academic leadership and insufficient funds for research are some of the major problems the education sector is facing today. All these issues were brought to the notice of Rahul Gandhi," he said.
"Soldiers are protecting our borders. But who will protect the people who are feeling insecure because of social, political and religious reasons? People are living under the grip of fear. We also discussed this issue with the Congress president," he said.
He said the exchange of views and suggestions to agrarian problems, increase in the farmers' suicide cases, instability in the prices of farm produce and drought situation were discussed in detail. Rahul Gandhi gave a patient hearing to the suggestions given by the intellectuals, he added.
Chenni said Rahul was keen on discussing the unemployment problem, besides the issue of tribals.
Dr Devi said Rahul was very receptive and he promised that he will strive to find solutions to the problems. "Some forces are destabilising the democracy and our concern is to stabilise it. In this context, I think the interaction was successful. It is a good sign that a party's head is inviting learned persons from different walks of life and want to know their views on the issues affecting the country," he said.
Most of the intellectuals felt that Rahul was an able and matured leader who can take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi effectively. They said they were bowled over by Rahul's humility and eagerness to listen to elders and intellectuals.
B L Shankar, Surekha Devi, Wilfred D'souza, M D Okkund, Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy, Muzaffar Assadi, Rajendra Poddar, Abdul Khan, K Neela, Ashok Pai and others took part in the programme.