BJP doubts Rahul's ability to be PM

Days after attacking the Prime Minister saying he does not enjoy the right to silence, the BJP trained its guns on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for not going public with his views on crucial issues hampering nation's growth.

The BJP also wondered if the Gandhi family heir is “not fit to be PM at 42, how can he be so at the age of 52?”. 

But the issue brought the difference within the NDA to fore with BJP’s critical ally JD-U saying that the country should not rely on foreign publications to point fingers at Rahul Gandhi’s abilities which will be eventually known.

“The truth is that in the last eight years, we have not heard Rahul Gandhi speak. Occasionally, he has read out statements here and there. We have not heard him speak about corruption, price rise and poverty.... That may have led to the assessment that he does not exist. That brand Rahul does not exist,” BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters.

Rudy had apparently borrowed a leaf from “The Rahul Problem,” published in leading foreign magazine Economist to trigger the political debate seeking Gandhi scion’s public accountability.  He referred to the magazine without getting into the content of the write up which is built on a new autobiography of Rahul that has hit the stands.

Though the Economist article is not a critique, the principal opposition party has been feasting on foreign publications taking pot shots at the UPA government, especially Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has been even described as “The underachiever”.

JD(U) opposes

However, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav differed with the BJP by saying:  “I have never supported Congress in my life. But, this issue belongs to country. If our papers comment on Rahul, then it is ok. However, if we indulge in a debate on the basis of a foreign magazine, it is not good. I oppose this,” he said and added, “The country will certainly know the truth of Rahul later,” he predicted. 

Earlier, in one of the Parliament sessions concluded recently, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely had said that Manmohan Singh has invoked his right to silence which is available to an accused in a court and not to the prime minister.

“Is he with the Prime Minister or against him? He should speak out whether the charge of a Constitutional institution, the CAG, on the PM for the loot of Rs 1.86 lakh crore (in the coal scam) is right or wrong. After all, he has to be a statesman. We haven't heard from him,” Rudy said.