Rahul Gandhi must lead the Congress as soon as possible, says Siddaramaiah

Rahul Gandhi must now take up the responsibility of the Congress and lead the party as soon as possible given that party President Sonia Gandhi is not keeping well, said Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday.

"I have suggested to Rahul ji that he should become the president of the All India Congress Committee," Siddaramaiah said.

"It is not that Sonia ji is incapable of discharging her duties as the president. Sonia ji is not keeping good health. That is why I suggested Rahul ji to take over as early as possible," he added.

When asked regarding the concerns of coal shortage across the country and in the state, the former CM said, "In Karnataka also, according to my information, there is no scarcity of coal. If the government says that there is a scarcity, then it is an artificial scarcity, according to me, because so much coal is not required for production of power." Karnataka does not require large quantities of coal as renewable energy is available in abundance, he added. "There is hydel power, wind and solar power available. Hence, so much coal based power is not required," he explained.