Rahul Gandhi turns 38; Congress celebrate

Drumbeats, slogans and the deafening noise of firecrackers brought alive the stretch outside the Congress headquarters in New Delhi as Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi turned 38 on Thursday.

Congress workers did not miss the chance to celebrate Gandhi's birthday, landing in large numbers outside the 24, Akbar Road party office and the adjoining residence of Amethi MP's mother and party President Sonia Gandhi at 10, Janpath.

Although Rahul Gandhi was not in town and no one from the Gandhi clan was present at 10, Janpath, it did little to dampen the spirits of the workers, who celebrated his birthday with much fanfare.

While some reports said the MP was away in London, others claimed he had gone to Maharashtra along with the Congress President.

"He is not here, but we will still celebrate his birthday in a grand way" said a Jagdish Sharma, Secretary, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, while instructing the drummers to increase the tempo.

And amidst all this, party workers also expressed their desire to see Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Minister.

"Hum log to chahte hain ki wo agle PM banein (we want him to become the next PM)," said party worker Balbir Singh Rajput.

Activists of Youth Congress, of which the MP is in-charge, was organising programmes all over the country to celebrate his birthday.

"We are organising programmes in every district," said Youth Congress President Ashok Tanwar.