Kolkata: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi would “refuse” to become Prime Minister “now”. The 39-year-old politician believes he is not experienced enough for the post but his statement perhaps leaves the door open for the future.
"Now--I would refuse," Gandhi said at a press conference in Kolkata when he was asked whether he would accept to take up the Prime Minister’s post.
"I do not think I have the experience to be the Prime Minister of the country right now," said Gandhi at the conference which he held along with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Gandhi said there were two reasons why he could not accept the Prime Minister’s post. "One is that I am working in the organisation of the Congress party, which I think is fundamental for this country. I think it is very important for a strong, progressive, pro-poor youth organisation is developed in this country and that is a very, very big priority of mine.
"Number two is I don't think I have the experience to be the Prime Minister of the country right now," said Gandhi.
Asked whether his being in politics reinforced the dynastic tag on the Congress, he said: "Manmohan Singh is not from the Gandhi dynasty. He is the Prime Minister.
He accused the Left Front government of West Bengal of ignoring the poor. "I saw the statistics on NREGA and I was shocked. There are places where lakhs of job cards are being given but only five-six families have jobs. I have seen a better situation in Uttar Pradesh. It (the NREGA scheme) does not seem to be running here.”
"It is nice for the Left to comment on Mamataji, but the fact is the Left does not have right ideas for growth," said Gandhi, referring to the Left's remarks that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was "anti-development".
Asked whether the Congress was keeping its doors open for a post-poll understanding with the Left parties, Gandhi was non-committal.
"I am nobody to say whether the doors are open or closed. That is for the party president and Prime Minister to decide. But as a general principle, I can say that doors of Congress
are open for anyone willing to join us," he said.
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