Date:16/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/16/stories/2008041660751200.htm

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Pranab: nothing wrong in Arjun’s comment

Special Correspondent

Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: A day after Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said in an interview to a news agency that there was nothing wrong in projecting Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha election, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday that it was a universal truth for the leadership to pass on to young people.

Finding nothing wrong or controversial in Mr. Singh’s comment, Mr. Mukherjee’s response to questions on whether the possibility of Mr. Gandhi being the next Prime Minister was discussed within the party or the UPA was in the negative. “When the occasion arises, it will be discussed,” he said.

The Congress position is that the issue of prime ministership – both for the remaining part of the 14th Lok Sabha and the next one – is not up for debate at this juncture.