It's time Rahul speaks on Coalgate: BJP

"The truth is that in the last eight years, we have not heard Rahul Gandhi speak. Occasionally, he has read out statements here and there. We have not heard him speak about corruption, price rise and poverty.... That may have led to the assessment that he does not exist. That brand Rahul does not exist," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters.

He pointed out Gandhi has not spoken on the 2G spectrum issue even though it was such a big issue in which former Telecom Minister A Raja had to go to jail. And till now, Gandhi has not spoken on the coal scam either, Rudy said.

"Is he with the Prime Minister or against him? He should speak out whether the charge of a Constitutional institution, the CAG, on the PM for the loot of Rs 1.86 Lakh crore (in the coal scam) is right or wrong. After all, he has to be a statesman. We haven't heard from him," Rudy said.

"Many a times, there are views from his party that he will be holding the highest post in the government, that he will head the party... But a person who is not fit at 42, what assessment can we have that he will be fit at 52?" Rudy said.

Describing Gandhi as a "crown prince", Rudy said in reply to a question that he was referring to the Congress General Secretary's "administrative, political and mental maturity" when he mentioned his age.