Rahul turns 41, Digvijay says he can become PM now

New Delhi/Lucknow, Jun 19 (PTI) Rahul Gandhi turned 41
on Sunday and the birthday wish from a senior Congress leader
was it is time that he becomes India'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 to the scion of the
Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to decide on taking up the mantle of
Prime Ministership.
With Assembly elections in the north Indian state of
Uttar Pradesh due early next year, 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
Gandhi recently that had generated a lot of political heat.
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 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," 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," Singh said.
The senior Congress leader said 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," Singh added.
On his wish to see Rahul tie the knot, 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, who recently re-joined Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), 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," 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 nyay 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.