You and other Congress leaders have said many times that Rahul Gandhi must take up the party president's role, but he has been hesitant till now. Is it due lack of leadership that, despite all constraints and his own apprehensions, Rahul is believed to be the most competent person to lead the party?Rahulji is young. He is political. His mind and heart are in the right place. He connects with the youth and will lead the party when the opportunity comes. By the way, there is no lack of leadership in the party. In fact, we have surplus leaders.

But you have admitted that Rahul is not a 'ruling person' by nature.Rahulji and Soniaji are not in politics for power. They want to serve the people. This is the difference between Narendra Modi and Gandhis. Modi seeks power for himself and his own people.

Rahul's communication skills are also questionable.Those who have had the English medium instruction find it difficult to speak in Hindi. Initially, I also struggled to give speeches in Hindi. But he will pick up soon.

You have mentored Rahul Gandhi...No, I have not. He doesn't need mentorship.

What is Congress doing to turn around its fortunes?Rahulji has already consulted over 250 senior leaders of the party and prepared a road map. Now, he will consult the second-rank leaders in states, and then, by March-April the blueprint will be ready.

What is your assessment of Modi government's performance in the past seven months?Modi government didn't fulfil any promises made during the electoral campaigns. It had promised to get back black money in 100 days. There is no inkling of black money even now. All the economical parameters are down. Growth rate has declined, rupee has depreciated, foreign cash reserves are dwindling and farmers are not getting good minimum support price. Modi had talked about the development agenda. Where is that agenda now? Is Ghar Wapsi, lauding Nathuram Godse or talking about ramzade-haramzade and targeting Muslims and Christians government's real agenda? This government's only agenda is to give away natural resources to businessmen at throwaway prices, making them billionaires from millionaires.

Why Congress is introspecting if the pro-minority or anti-Hindu image was behind its poll debacle?This is just media gossip and propaganda of rival parties. Congress was never anti-Hindu. I am a Hindu and observe fast on Navratri and Ekadashi. We adopt the religiousness of Mahatma Gandhi, not the fanatics of Nathuram Godse, which BJP is supporting. The kind of Hindutva BJP is propagating has no relation with Hinduism. There is no mention of Hindu in Vedas and Puranas. The Hindu word comes from the Persian word Sindhu, where 'sa' is pronounced at 'ha'. When Hindu religion was safe during Mughal rule, why is it suddenly in danger now?

Will Congress support the anti-conversion Bill if it is introduced?We would like to know the details of the Bill first. Every Indian has the constitutional right to follow the religion s/he wishes to. This government is deliberately creating controversy for vote bank politics, their own ministers Najma Heptullah and Ramvilas Paswan have spoken against such a Bill.

Is marriage with Amrita Rai on the cards?That's a personal matter. I will announce whenever it happens.