Rahul not boastful, offensive like Modi: Jairam Ramesh

As Congress tries to counter the Narendra Modi factor, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today said party Vice President Rahul Gandhi is neither boastful, nor "aggressive or offensive" like the Gujarat Chief Minister.

"Some people in the country always boast about themselves... I've done this... I'll do this... I have a magic wand to solve all the problems," Ramesh said in a veiled reference to BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Without naming Modi, the Union Rural Development Minister said the leader belonged to the "main opposition party... do not ask me his name".

"Rahulji's personality is different, cool... he does his work very quietly...he will listen to every one...take his/her advice patiently... he is not aggressive or offensive... He delegates responsibilities to others in a very systematic way," Ramesh told reporters here.

The minister said the "boastful" leader "thinks no one can do that work in the world.... The world starts from him, and ends with him. They have got solutions to every problem".

In contrast, he said, "Rahulji has been working for seven years in 40 districts of Uttar Pradesh for women self-help groups and engaged five lakh women workers. He never gave any statement on this matter, because he believes in work, and only work," he said.
The Congress vice-president "is a firm believer of empowerment and right to opportunity," Ramesh said, adding "Rahulji never beats the drums of proclamation".