Digvijay wants birthday boy Rahul Gandhi to be new PM

Lucknow, Jun 19: Rahul Gandhi turned 41 on Sunday, Jun 19 and the birthday wish from a senior Congress leader was it is time that he becomes the country's Prime Minister.

And on a personal note, Digvijay Singh wants his fellow Congress General Secretary to get married this year.

Singh however left it to the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to decide on taking up the mantle of Prime Ministership.

With Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh due early 2012, Rahul"s birthday was utilised by the state unit of the Congress to reach out to the farmers.

The day was celebrated all over the state by party workers as Kisan Adhikar Diwas (Farmers" Rights Day). The celebration came in the backdrop of the agitation at Bhatta Parsaul in Greater Noida on the land acquisition issue by Mr. Gandhi recently that had generated a lot of political heat.

Mr. Rahul also received birthday greetings from unexpected quarters when firebrand BJP leader Uma Bharti wished a very long and happy life to him but at the same time she conveyed a message that he should learn how to respect opponents.

Digvijay Singh said Mr. Rahul was now a mature person with sound political instincts and can become the Prime Minister.

“I think it is time that Rahul becomes the Prime Minister," Mr. Singh said, talking to PTI in Bhopal.

“Rahul is now 41 and he has been working for the party for the last seven to eight years," Mr. Singh said.

The senior Congress leader said Mr. Rahul had the right qualities, instincts and experience to take up the mantle of prime ministership now. He however said, “All this will be decided by him only."

“But Rahul is getting to know ground realities and this nation is very big and till one doesn"t know the ground realities one cannot work properly," Mr. Singh added.

On his wish to see Mr. Rahul tie the knot, Mr. Singh said, “We wish him on his birthday. This year he may reach new heights. We wish to see him as a groom this year."

Uma Bharti utilised Rahul"s birthday to urge him to respect the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) like the way his grandfather and the first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru did.

“I wish Rahul Gandhi live a long and healthy life but he should avoid making (political) errors. I want Rahul to learn from his grandfather Jawahar Lal Nehru how to respect your opponents," Ms. Bharti told reporters.

“I will gift him today a Nehru"s book, in which he praised RSS for its contribution to the country and invited it to participate in Republic Day parade," she added.

Enquiries at his 12 Tughlak Lane residence in New Delhi showed that the young leader was not at home and no celebration had been planned.

Kisan chaupals (farmer gatherings) were also organised in all the nvay panchyats in Rahul"s Amethi Parliamentary constituency.

The party office bearers organised chaupals in all the 712 nyay panchayats in Amethi to hear problems faced by farmers.

Party leader Rajesh Srivastav said this year neither cakes were cut nor sweets were distributed on Gandhi"s birthday but the party workers tried to mingle with farmers.

“We will fight for the cause of farmers and get their problems redressed," he said.

PTI