India the largest pool of human capital, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi has pitched for inclusive growth, saying whenever certain groups like women, tribals and Dalits have been left behind, India has fallen back.

Addressing corporate honchos at the annual general meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Gandhi spelt out his priorities for India's growth: "The biggest danger is excluding people, excluding the poor, the middle class, the tribals, the Dalits."

"Whenever we excluded women, the minorities, Dalits... we have always fallen back," the 42-year-old Gandhi scion said.

Gandhi, formally addressing a gathering such as this for the first time, said: "India is the largest pool of human capital people have ever known, and probably will ever know. It was this movement of people... this tremendous movement of people and ideas that is going to define this country in the 21st century."

"Democracy and technology have triggered a non-reversible chain reaction in India. This reaction is unstoppable, nobody can stop it," he said.

Gandhi said: "The government cannot build infrastructure alone. We need your (the industry's) help. It has to be done jointly," adding "it is our duty to provide India with a physical infrastructure to enable this unprecedented movement of people and ideas."

Industry chamber CII's annual general meetings, over the years, have seen many political bigwigs cutting across party lines making an appearance to enunciate their vision for economic growth.

This year's AGM was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday.

Congress president and Rahul's mother Sonia Gandhi has attended the meeting at least twice in the past.

With inputs from IANS