Digvijay's remark on Rahul is not condemnable: Cong

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) The Congress today refused to ''endorse or condemn'' the remarks of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, that AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi ''is fully competent to occupy the post of Prime Minister,'' keeping alive the demands for naming the scion of the Gandhi family for the top executive post.

''We are neither endorsing or condemning'' the statement of Mr Digvijay Singh, AICC spokesman Manish Tiwari told reporters who sought the party's reaction to the remarks which apparently defied the party's warning against sychophancy.

Mr Tiwari sought to play down the issue, stating that there was a difference between ''capacity and probability'' and the statement of Mr Digvijay Singh should be read ''carefully in the right context.'' Asked about the party's stand, he said there was no change in the clarifications made by another spokesperson, Jayanti Natarajan, a fortnight ago that there was no vacancy for the post of the Prime Minister which was occupied by Dr Manmohan Singh.

''There is nothing to add to that,'' Mr Tiwari said.

It was HRD Minister Arjun Singh's ''Rahul for PM'' call that had kicked off the debate in the party.

Meanwhile, Mr Tiwari termed as ''cheap politics'' the NDA's move for a general strike on May 2 to protest against the Centre's failure to check price rise.

The strike call would in fact be a protest against NDA governments in some states which were also equally responsible for reining in inflation, he said.

He was also critical of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for giving Rs 20,000 to a tribal widow for her daughter's marriage after Mr Rahul Gandhi had extended help to her.

UNI SN RP AS1744