On a two-day visit to her parliamentary constituency, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday expressed concern that the country is in the grip of 'communal and casteist forces'.

Addressing a function organised by the Youth Congress in Amethi, she urged the youth to initiate the process of liberating the country from the forces that are exploiting people.

"I have full faith in the capabilities and the strength of the youth. I am confident that they will usher in a change. They are basically honest but get misled by the success of dishonest people. This should be avoided," Sonia Gandhi said.

Recalling the contribution of her late husband Rajiv Gandhi, she said he had initiated an era of modernisation in the field of science and Information Technology during his tenure as prime minister.

"The country is marching ahead on the path of progress shown by him," she said.

Earlier, Congress leaders requested their party chief to induct her daughter Priyanka Gandhi into active politics.

Party members also presented her with a memorandum, to be submitted to President A P J Abdul Kalam, which sought that the newly-created Amethi district be named after Rajiv Gandhi.

More reports from Uttar Pradesh