By NNN-BSS,
New Delhi : Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said he would be very happy to have Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi as a member in his cabinet.
“I have tried many times but not succeeded. I will be very happy to have him in the ministry,” Dr Singh told newsmen at a prize awarding ceremony in New Delhi on Monday organised by CNN- IBN.
At the function, Gandhi was adjudged the “Politician of the Year” for “energizing” the Congress and being the key strategist behind the party’s revival in Uttar Pradesh state, the Hindu reported today quoting a news agency.
Gandhi was not present to receive the award from Dr. Singh. In his message, he said he was in Uttar Pradesh on a prior engagement. The young leader earlier refused to join the cabinet insisting that he preferred party work.
Praising Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister said: “He has more than fulfilled the expectations, we had but the best is yet to come.”
To a question whether he had expected the Congress to get a comfortable majority in the May Lok Sabha elections, Dr. Singh said: “I was doubtful…”
To a query whether the 2009 victory was the biggest moment in his life, Dr Singh said he took things in their stride. Describing 2009 as a “remarkable year” Dr. Singh said when the rest of the world was going through recession, India proved the prophets of doom wrong.
Asked in a lighter vein whether a Professor-economist Prime Minister was good for the country in such times, Dr. Singh said: “You are right.”
At the function, maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Oscar-winning music director A R Rahman got the Indian of the Year Award, for sports Saina Nehwal was given the prize for taking Indian badminton to unprecedented heights by becoming the first Indian woman to win a Super Series title.
The Indian cricket team, which bagged the first ranking by the ICC for tests, was also honored.
While handing over award to music director A R Rahman, Prime Minister said his music was inspirational.
“Rahman’s music is inspirational… When I heard Rahman in the White House, you cannot imagine the sense of joy and achievement ..Dr. Singh said.
The Indian Premier called Pandit Ravi Shankar, an “inspirational genius” saying “there is only one Panditji and he has been a role model and will be a role model.”