New Delhi, Sep 4 (PTI) Rahul Gandhi is more intellectual and more of a strategist as compared with his father Rajiv Gandhi, says long-time Gandhi family confidant Sam Pitroda, describing both leaders as “custodians of the idea of India”.
In an interview with PTI, Pitroda also asserted that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has all the qualities of a future prime minister.
Pitroda, the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, dismissed as “bogus” the BJP’s attack on Rahul Gandhi in the past over his remarks critical of the government during his visits abroad.
Speaking about Gandhi’s upcoming visit to the US next week, Pitroda said he is not coming to the US in his official capacity but will have a chance to interact with a variety of people on Capitol Hill at an “individual level”.
“He (Gandhi) will definitely have interactions with the press at the national press club, he will meet with the think tank people and will also have interaction at Georgetown University which is equally important in Washington DC,” the Indian Overseas Congress chief said of Gandhi’s first visit to the US since assuming the mantle of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Rahul Gandhi will visit the US from September 8-10 during which he will hold numerous interactions in Washington DC and Dallas, including at the University of Georgetown and the University of Texas.
Asked about similarities and divergences between former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Pitroda said he had worked with a number of prime ministers closely such as Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh, VP Singh, Chandra Sekhar and HD Deve Gowda.
“I had an opportunity to see many prime ministers from very close quarters but the difference between Rahul and Rajiv maybe is that Rahul is much more intellectual, thinker, Rajiv was a little more doer. They have the same DNA, they have the same concerns and feelings for the people, they genuinely believe in building a better India for everybody, they are genuinely simple people. They don’t have big personal needs,” the Congress leader told PTI from Chicago.
