Rahul Gandhi declines bigger party role

      Hyderabad: Rahul Gandhi, the latest of India's famed Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty and son of Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, today declined calls to shoulder more responsibilities, saying he still had to learn the ropes of politics. There has been a growing clamour within the Congress to appoint Rahul, 35, to the party's apex decision-making panel, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), during the 82nd Plenary Session of the party in Hyderabad. But the first-time Member of Parliament said he was not yet ready.

    "Someone once asked me what my religion was, I thought about it and I answered that the Indian flag was my religion. I promised myself after my father died that I would serve the people this flag represents. By taking up a job before I know what our workers and people feel and need, I would be doing a disservice both to my religion and my party. My place right now is among our people, my place right now is to learn and to understand so that I can serve my people and my party better. I appreciate and I am grateful for your feelings and support, I assure that I will not let you down," Rahul said in his speech at the convention today.

   Rahul's father, grandmother and great grandfather had all been Prime Ministers for about 37 of the 46 years the Congress has ruled India. Congress supporters strongly believe that the cherubic Rahul will also eventually become country's Prime Minister.

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