Cong counters Pawar's remarks on Rahul

The Congress appeared to be at unease following key ally and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s remark that Rahul Gandhi has to prove his mettle in administration first, with party leaders saying that he had “adequate” experience as a two-term member of Parliament. “Pawarji is a senior leader of the country. The Congress would not like to comment on his televised interview. But Rahul (Gandhi) has his own experience of becoming Lok Sabha member for two terms,” said Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala here.

He added that Gandhi’s long experience in the party organisation and his role in giving legal status to various welfare schemes of the government were noteworthy. 

“This is adequate experience. As far as learning is concerned, you learn till you die,” said Surjewala.

In a television interview, Pawar had said that the Gandhi scion should gain administrative experience by becoming a minister before he was made prime minister. 

He had also said that Rahul should first prove his mettle in administration.