I am not ruling myself in or out, says Manmohan

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday dismissed the debate over two power centres as “useless” even as he did not rule out his accepting the third term.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh neither ruled himself in nor ruled himself out for a third term in South Block.

Asked on Friday by journalists whether he would accept a third term as Prime Minister, Dr. Singh said, “It is a hypothetical question... We are yet to complete this term.” Pressed on whether he was ruling himself out, he said, “I am not ruling it in, I am not ruling it out.”

The Prime Minister’s impatience with questions posed by journalists covering the Padma awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan was evident.

Rahul’s speech ‘excellent’

Asked whether he would welcome Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister, Dr. Singh replied, “Oh yes, any day.” Asked to comment on Mr. Gandhi's speech at the CII on Thursday, he remarked, “Excellent.”

Media’s creation

And to a question on the two centres of power controversy, he dismissed it, saying, “This is the creation of the media. It is a useless debate.”