I hope Rahul seriously considers joining govt: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said he is sincerely hoping that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will "seriously" consider his request to join the government.

"I have always been favouring that Rahul Gandhi should play a more active role in the government. I have invited him to be a member of the Cabinet on several occasions. I sincerely hope that this time he will consider it very seriously, my request," Dr Singh said when asked about his earlier remarks that Gandhi should play a more active role in the government.

However, the prime minister also said he was not aware of what was going on in the mind of the young leader.

"I do not know what he is planning to do," he said.

Dr Singh's remarks come in the wake of growing clamour in the party that Rahul Gandhi should play a bigger role in it and the government.