Prime Minister Manmohan Singh marked his first press conference in four years on Monday by declaring that he had no intention of retiring before he fulfilled ?his mandate?.
While he gave defensive answers to most questions pertaining to his Cabinet, this was one definitive statement that he chose to make. Answering a question as to how many times he had contemplated retirement in the last six years, he said, ?I have responsibilities. Till those are fulfilled, I?m not thinking of retirement.? With this an attempt was made to squelch all rumours that there would be a mid-term change of guard in the PMO, under the helm of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
While the PM ruled out any change in PMO, he did admit that he had asked Rahul Gandhi ?several times? to become a member of his Cabinet. ?Rahul Gandhi is very qualified to hold a Cabinet post and I have discussed it on a number of occasions with him. On all these occasions he has said that he is working for the party and has declined the offer. I have every reason to believe that as and when he decides he will be a great addition to the Cabinet,? he said.
The PM also squashed all talk of any ?gap? which had arisen between him and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, which has been reflected in the party and the government holding different briefs on several issues.
?There is not an iota of truth in the perception that there is mistrust between the Congress president and I,? he said.
In what appeared to be a message more for his party than any other audience, he said, ?The co-ordination mechanism between the party and the government is adequate. The Congress president and I meet every week to discuss issues which need to be discussed.?
?It is my appeal to all like-minded party?s to join us in our endeavour to provide inclusive growth,? he also said?a statement not likely to be appreciated by his current ally, Mamata Banerjee.