Bringing back into focus Rahul Gandhi's statement that hewas ready to play a larger political role, Prime Minister Manmohan SinghSaturday said he would welcome the Congress general secretary into the UnitedProgressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"I have always said that I will welcome Rahul's entry(in the government)," Manmohan Singh told reporters after Vice PresidentHamid Ansari's oath-taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Gandhi had recently announced that he was ready for a moreproactive role both in the party and the government.
Sources said a clarification to this effect could come inSeptember when a reshuffle in the party and the cabinet is expected after theongoing monsoon session of parliament ends.
However, the prime minister's statement failed to excite anymajor reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which said it was not concernedwith the issue.
"Whom they (Congress) induct in government is theirprerogative. We are not concerned," said Leader of Opposition in the RajyaSabha Arun Jaitley.
Earlier too, the prime minister had invited Gandhi to joinhis cabinet but the young Congress leader was reluctant, indicating thatrejuvenating the party was his priority.
Before parliament's session started Aug 8, as many as 10Congress MPs wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi to make Rahul Gandhi Leaderof House in the Lok Sabha to succeed Pranab Mukherjee, now the country'spresident.
But the slot went to Gandhi family loyalist Home MinisterSushilkumar Shinde, given his seniority and long administrative experience.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, considered to beclose to Gandhi, has repeatedly said he would prefer the young leader to assumea bigger role in the party.
The debate on Rahul Gandhi's "bigger role" wastriggered after Law Minister Salman Khurshid said the party had seen only cameoroles from him and that he should guide a "directionless" party aheadof the 2014 general elections.