"I even wanted Rahul to be in the government but he declined"-sonia gandhi

As two young Congress faces were inducted in the Union Council of Ministers, party President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said that she had wanted her son Rahul Gandhi to be given a ministerial berth also, but he preferred to work for the party.

As two young Congress faces were inducted in the Union Council of Ministers, party President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said that she had wanted her son Rahul Gandhi to be given a ministerial berth also, but he preferred to work for the party. Talking to reporters at Rashtrapati Bhawan after swearing-in of seven new ministers, Sonia Gandhi said, "I would have liked more young Member of Parliament (MPs) in the Council of Ministers but it was not possible because of coalition compulsion."

"I even wanted Rahul to be in the government but he declined. He said that he has the responsibility of youth Congress and would not be able to do justice to both the positions if he was given a ministerial berth," she added.

Justifying the inclusion of young faces like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada, Sonia Gandhi said that the government needed some young faces, "which is why some young faces have been inducted into the government."

When asked to comment on Deshmukh's fate, she replied, "He is very much stable." She also scotched the rumour that made rounds the whole of Sunday that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh could be called to Delhi to work for the organisation.

Expressing concern over the rising inflation, which recorded a three-year high of seven per cent in the week ended March 22, the Congress chief said that the government was taking all possible steps to contain the price rise of essential commodities.

President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office and secrecy to seven new ministers. It was her maiden administration of oath to members of the Union Ministry.

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