Congress maintains suspense over Rahul Gandhi's return

Keeping up the suspense over when the party Vice President Rahul Gandhi will return from his sabbattical, Congress on Wednesday skirted pointed questions whether he would be back by Thursday.

Party spokesman P C Chacko, however, gave ample indications that the Congress Vice President would be active before the April 19 farmers rally. "Our Vice President is coming back to join this Kisan Rally on April 19, and he has given appointment to many leaders also," he said.

To a question, Digvijaya Singh has said Rahul is coming back on Wednesday, Chacko said "our Vice President Rahul Gandhi along with Sonia Gandhi will be addressing the Kisan Rally on April 19". Before the rally, Rahul would also be meeting some party leaders, Chacko indicated, but did not specify the date.

Reports had spoken about plans being underway to organise an interaction of Rahul with a delegation of farmers on April 17. He said Rahul left for the sabbattical after making a statement that he would not be available for few weeks and suggested that his right to privacy should be respected. "His absence for one month has become a big problem in India," he remarked.

Chacko was asked a number of questions whether Rahul is going to be back today and from where he is coming. Such questions were virtually a daily occurrence during briefings in the last two months. Reports had it that the Congress Vice President is expected to return from his sabbatical by Wednesday when his temporary break from political life clocks 55th day.

Congress leaders have already announced that Rahul would be back by April 19 as he would be addressing the farmer's rally at the Ramlila maidan here on that day. The rally is being held on the eve of the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament. Rahul had skipped the first phase as he went on the sabbatical shortly before it commenced.

To a question on the statement of Sheila Dikshit putting a question mark on the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and posing complete faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Chacko said everyone putting their full confidence in Sonia Gandhi does not mean that they don't put confidence in Rahul Gandhi.