• SHEKHAR GUPTA: But you do have a temper?

Yes, I must admit. I do sometimes, and it is the young people in the media who have to bear the brunt of it.

• VIKAS PATHAK: The Congress projects 10 Janpath as its power centre. But with the increasing importance of regional politics, is it feasible to project Rahul Gandhi as a leader in state elections?

One difficulty the Congress has is that we cannot compete in regional politics. We have strong competition from regional parties in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu and we face challenges from the Left in states like West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. We have recognised the urgent need for organised social engineering and mobility at the grassroots level.

• SUBHOMOY BHATTACHARYA: The Congress came to power after declaring that the NDA’s policies were not pro aam aadmi. Which UPA economic policy would you highlight as pro aam aadmi?

Despite a few lacunae in the NRGES, it is a major institutional arrangement. The Right to Information Act is a major step for the common man, as it brings in transparency and accountability. There has been a major boost in exports. This has generated more employment. We have taken forward the national highways projects and then there’s the JNNURM scheme.

• SHEKHAR GUPTA: JNNURM is one of the smartest and most creative schemes launched by a government as it has initiated a spate of reforms which, had they been recommended by the IMF, wouldn’t have taken place. It is a reform pushed at the intellectual level. Do you agree?

... contd.