Onboard PM's Special Flight to New Delhi: Gandhi family scion Rahul Gandhi is an ideal choice for the top job in 2014, prime minister Manmohan Singh said, adding that he, one of India's longest serving PMs, would be happy to work under the Congressvicepresident's leadership.
While the 80-year-old Singh has in the past said that Gandhi was suited to become PM, this is the first time he has explicitly expressed his willingness to work under the younger leader.
In April, he had created a flutter when he said he did not rule out a third term for himself. "I have always maintained that Rahul Gandhiji would be an ideal choice for the prime minister's position after the 2014 election. I would be very happy to work for the Congress party under the leadership of Mr Rahul Gandhi," Singh told reporters on the way back from the G20 Summit in St Petersburg.
Singh also said that he was an open book and he had nothing to hide anything from the parliament on the coal matter or on any other matter. On Pakistan, Singh said a meeting with prime minister Nawaz Sharif can happen only if Pakistan's actions matches its words.
"Under normal conditions, I would be happy to meet with prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whom I respect, who has said the right things about how relations between our two countries should evolve. But, there are certain harsh realities on the ground. If the terror acts do not stop; if those who voice terrorist thoughts move about freely; if there is no progress in bringing the culprits of the Mumbai massacre to book; — that I have to factor in before arriving at a final decision," he said.
While the 80-year-old Singh has in the past said that Gandhi was suited to become PM, this is the first time he has explicitly expressed his willingness to work under the younger leader.
In April, he had created a flutter when he said he did not rule out a third term for himself. "I have always maintained that Rahul Gandhiji would be an ideal choice for the prime minister's position after the 2014 election. I would be very happy to work for the Congress party under the leadership of Mr Rahul Gandhi," Singh told reporters on the way back from the G20 Summit in St Petersburg.
Singh also said that he was an open book and he had nothing to hide anything from the parliament on the coal matter or on any other matter. On Pakistan, Singh said a meeting with prime minister Nawaz Sharif can happen only if Pakistan's actions matches its words.
"Under normal conditions, I would be happy to meet with prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whom I respect, who has said the right things about how relations between our two countries should evolve. But, there are certain harsh realities on the ground. If the terror acts do not stop; if those who voice terrorist thoughts move about freely; if there is no progress in bringing the culprits of the Mumbai massacre to book; — that I have to factor in before arriving at a final decision," he said.
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