New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) There was "no question" of retirement, an assertive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday while accepting that he sometimes felt that "young people" like Rahul Gandhi should take over, and also stated unambiguously that "trust deficit" continued to be the biggest problem with Pakistan.
"Trust deficit is the biggest problem. Unless we tackle that, we can't make progress. It has been my effort to reduce the gap," the prime minister, who last met his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani three weeks ago in his continuing effort to improve ties, admitted at a National Press Conference to mark the first year of the second tenure of his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"We are willing to discuss with Pakistan all outstanding issues. Pakistani territory should not be used to spread terror in India or against India," he said about his biggest foreign policy challenge.
Addressing about 500 journalists for over an hour at the Vigyan Bhavan convention centre on a range of issues, ranging from Maoist violence and Jammu and Kashmir to his equation with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the future of Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh was categorical that he was not going anywhere just yet.
"I have been given a work and it is incomplete yet; and till I complete it, there is no question of my retirement," he said, putting to rest speculation that may not be entirely in control.
However, the 77-year-old prime minister also said in response to a question on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi: "Well, I sometimes feel that young people should take over (as prime minister)... I would be very happy to make place for anybody."
Rahul Gandhi, he said, would be a "very appropriate addition" to the cabinet "as and when he is ready".
The matter had been discussed with him at a number of occasions but Rahul Gandhi was reluctant to give a positive answer. "He is doing a good job... he has duties to perform in reviving the Congress party."
Answering a question on his own performance, a confident Manmohan Singh, who answered questions in a matter-of-fact manner in his characteristic monotone, said he was "satisfied" with his performance in the last six years but felt he "could do better".
Sceptics had their answer when the economist-politician declared that his government would complete its five-year term, but declined to do any ball gazing for the next election.
"I have every reason to believe that we will complete our term… Although we are a coalition government, we have given our country a government which works, which has delivered high rates of growth, which has accelerated the process to inclusive growth."
On a rather poetic note breaking the monotony of his studied answers, he said about whether he missed the "structured" support of the Left: "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. It cannot become a reality."
The prime minister, who gave short, succinct answers to most questions, denied that the government had underestimated the Maoist insurgency, which he again described as the "biggest" security challenge the country faces.
"If you remember I have always been saying that Naxalism is the biggest security challenge. So it is not correct to say that we have underestimated the magnitude of the problem".
Focusing on the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir, he said he was ready for dialogue if separatists shed violence and reiterated that his government followed a "zero tolerance" policy against human rights violations.
The fate of Afzal Guru, the parliament attack convict from Jammu and Kashmir on death row since 2002, would be decided according to the "law of the land".
Asked if the delay in hanging the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist would label his government as soft, the prime minister said it was a matter of perception to call any state soft or hard and "perceptions can vary".
In Manmohan Singh's view, the Congress had not been weakened by the controversies over Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh's utterances or by former junior foreign minister Shashi Thaoroor, who quit in the wake of the Kochi-IPL controversy.
"I don't have any such feelings. I welcome a dialogue between ministers … we are a democracy," he said, but also added: "It is not good that this (cabinet issues) should be aired in public."
On the much discussed equation with Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, he said "there was no question of any gap between me and her".
"Any elements of distrust or mistrust are not there between her and me," he added.
Injecting perhaps the only note of humour, he also took on a question of whose advice he valued the most - his wife or Sonia Gandhi.
"I am privileged to have advice of Shrimati Sonia Gandhiji and my wife," the phlegmatic prime minister replied.
"Both deal with different subjects and I welcome both their advice," he said, prompting laughter in the packed hall. The prime minister allowed himself a smile too.