Delhi CM Atishi urges youth to engage in politics to shape India’s Future

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi delivered a powerful speech at the Founder’s Day celebration of St Stephen’s College, urging young people to participate in shaping India’s future through politics. Addressing the students, she said if educated individuals continue to disengage from politics, the country’s crucial decisions would be left in the hands of “the worst kind of people.”

CM Atishi emphasised the importance of political engagement, saying, “When educated, young people stay away from politics, we are responsible for leaving the most important decisions of our lives to the worst kind of people.” She urged the students to rethink their perception of politics as a "dirty business" and view it instead as a vital means of driving positive change.

Reflecting on her own political journey, Atishi spoke about the unexpected challenges she faced. “When we came into power in 2015, we wanted to bring change, but we were stunned by the entrenched vested interests and the obstacles we encountered. Many of my colleagues spent time in custody because of our fight against these forces. Yet, despite these challenges, the journey has been worthwhile because of the impact we’ve made,” she said, highlighting the transformative policies of the AAP government.

One of the key achievements she highlighted was the transformation of Delhi’s government schools, which were in a dire state when the AAP took office. “In 2015, government schools were in deplorable condition — no glass panes on windows, no desks, no clean drinking water. Today, they outperform private schools. Last year, 2,000 students from Delhi government schools passed the JEE and NEET exams.”

Chief Minister Atishi concluded with a compelling call to action, urging the youth to become more involved in the political process. “India is not destined to stay the same. It can change and we are the ones who can bring that change. However, for that to happen, we must actively engage with politics and democracy,” she urged.