When will Rahul return, asks BJP; Soon, says Sonia

The BJP on Thursday took a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi wondering when he will return but Congress chief Sonia Gandhi asserted that he will soon be back among the people.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Thursday took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, wondering if he was really set to return and attend the April 19 rally of his party against the new land acquisition law.

"We do not know if reports about the date are true...Is his vacation finally over," asked Hussain.

Sonia Gandhi however asserted that Rahul Gandhi will come back soon.

"He will come back soon and will be among people," she said to questions on her son's return after her visit to Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh to meet farmers whose crops have been damaged in the recent untimely rains.

Rahul Gandhi had gone on "leave of absence" ahead of the budget session of parliament and there has been recurring speculation about the date of his return.

The party had initially said that he had gone on two weeks' leave but the period has extended to over a month now.

Senior party leader Digvijaya Singh had indicated earlier this week that Rahul Gandhi is likely to attend a farmers' rally being held by the party in the capital on on April 19.

Noting the rally will be attended by all senior leaders, he told IANS that "when I say senior leaders, it includes Rahul Gandhi as well.

The Congress meanwhile said it had no specific information of Rahul Gandhi's date of return.

"I have no official intimation in this regard," party spokesperson Meem Afzal said.