Digvijaya denies `Rahul as PM` comment

A day after the “Rahul Gandhi as PM” campaign gained momentum, the Congress on Monday tried to downplay the issue. Party general secretary Digvijaya Singh, whose remarks created a flutter yesterday, denied saying it was “high time” for Rahul Gandhi to become Prime Minister and instead the decision has to be taken by the party and Gandhi himself.

The party said it was for the people of India to decide when the young Gandhi can become the Prime Minister. Congress leaders said he might not take the mantle during this tenure of the UPA and may lead the party in an election before claiming the top post. Gandhi had always maintained that his priority was to rebuild the party and its youth organisations and not becoming a minister or the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too has denied speculations that he will quit the post midway.

“I have never said 'high time'. I have said Rahul Gandhi has got full potential to become a good prime minister. When he becomes the prime minister depends on the people of the country, the Congress party and himself,” said Singh. “It is something he will decide, party high command will decide, people of India will decide. He is not only a youth icon, but certainly a future leader of not only this party but of the country,” said Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan.

While hailing Gandhi for brining “tremendous change” among the youth and reaching out to the disadvantaged sections of society the Congress spokesperson said: “Our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has done an excellent job in heading the government for the last seven years. Manmohan Singh is our PM and he continues to be that.”