Rahul blames coalition constraints for prices

LUCKNOW: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday blamed coalition constraints for UPA's inability to tackle the various crises, including price rise and corruption facing the government.
His comments on coalition factors appear to be a reference to NCP leader Sharad Pawar in the context of inflation, with many in the Congress feeling aggrieved at the agriculture and consumer affairs minister's public remarks on price rise which they feel were only worsening the problem.
Though he did not specifically mention inflation, the question put to him at an interaction with students was why the government was unable to "control inflation and corruption as his grandmother the late Indira Gandhi had done in her time."
"Things have undergone a sea-change since Indira Gandhi ruled. We're not running the government alone and UPA is a coalition," Rahul said.
He said that petroleum prices were governed by the international market but still steps would be taken to control prices.
The suggestion that allies were part of the problem is unlikely to improve ties with Pawar who has in any case been completely impervious to Congress criticism. He has even adroitly suggested that he would be willing to consider shedding one of his portfolios. This is not seen as his willingness to handle just one ministry but perhaps swapping one of his charges.
The Amethi MP faced another tricky question when a girl asked: "If you were not born a Gandhi, would you still have joined mainstream politics?" Rahul pondered before replying, "I certainly would have, though I am not sure if I could be occupying the current position."
Rahul was in UP for two days to meet students and try and increase the membership of National Students' Union of India's (NSUI's).