Congress defends Rahul Gandhi as PM, BJP calls it dynasty politics

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday hailed its vice president Rahul Gandhi`s likely elevation as party`s prime ministerial candidate for 2014 General Elections, while the main opposition party, BJP, slammed it for relentlessly pursuing dynasty politics. Calling Rahul Gandhi the natural leader of Congress, Union Minister Manish Tewari today said that partymen want to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections under his leadership. "We have repeatedly and consistently said that he is the natural leader of the Congress party and we would want that we contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under his leadership," the Information and Broadcasting Minister told reporters here. "However who should be given what responsibility is a decision which is taken by Congress President Sonia Gandhi after due consideration and consultations with everyone," he said. Tewari was replying to a question regarding an interview given by the Congress Vice President in which he said that he was ready for any role that the party would give him. There has been speculation over whether Congress would declare Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate. To a remark of Rahul Gandhi that emperors Ashoka and Akbar had united the country while Aurangzeb had done the opposite was an indirect attack on Narendra Modi, Tewari said, "There is no need to be indirect. The politics of the respectable Gujarat Chief Minister has been narrow, communal and divisive.” "What happened in 2002 in Gujarat is not hidden from anyone. Instead of taking moral responsibility, the way he has tried to give justifications shows that he doesn`t believe in either secularism or the idea of India." He said that comments of Rahul Gandhi were appropriate in this context as the country did not move on narrow-mindedness but on an inclusive, wider thought. Meanwhile, the BJP today poked fun at Rahul Gandhi`s statement indicating his willingness to shoulder any responsibility conferred upon him by his party, arguing that the Congress vice-president was being designated the prime ministerial candidate only because of his pedigree. "Gandhi`s comment is laughable. He is going to be declared his party`s prime ministerial candidate because he belongs to a certain family, and his party can`t look beyond,`` BJP`s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters. He contrasted the Congress` succession plan with that of the BJP. "It is only in the BJP that a person of a humble background can rise up the ranks and be named as the party`s prime ministerial candidate,`` Prasad said, alluding to Narendra Modi`s background as a tea-seller who had evolved into a top-ranking leader of his party. Rahul Gandhi, in an interview to a leading Hindi daily, had dropped hints that he is ready to take bigger roles and his willingness to spearhead the Congress` campaign in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is holding a huge meeting in the capital later this week amid speculation that Gandhi, 43, will be announced as Modi`s challenger in the General Elections. During the interview, Rahul Gandhi also expressed hope that Congress party will do well in the next General Elections and his party`s return to power will hold good for the nation. “Congress is always underestimated, I am confident that it will do well in the next polls, “ he said. “It is in the interest of the country if Congress comes to power,” Rahul Gandhi said. Rahul also categorically rubbished reports that Congress is fast losing its allies. “It is untrue that my party is losing its allies, we have alliances in Maharashtra and J&K,” he said. The Congress vice president also dismissed speculations of his sister Priyanka Vadra playing a major role in the next polls. “I don`t think there`ll be any election-related role for Priyanka,” Rahul suggested.