Was ashamed of Rahul Gandhi defending dynasty culture in America: Arun Jaitley

"I was ashamed to see Rahul Gandhi, sitting in America, calling the dynasty culture an Indian phenomenon," Jaitley said at an event in New Delhi.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said he was ashamed of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi defending the dynasty culture in a lecture in the United States last week.

"I was ashamed to see Rahul Gandhi, sitting in America, calling the dynasty culture an Indian phenomenon," Jaitley said at an event in New Delhi.

"Some parties may think that being centered around dynasty is an asset, but in the long run it, becomes a burden," he said.

Speaking at an event at the University of California, Berkeley, on September 11, Rahul Gandhi had said that most Indian political parties were dynastic and that Indian politics functioned like that In remarks that did not exactly sound like defending the dynasty culture, Rahul had said, "It is a problem in all political parties in



India. That's how the entire country is running. So don't just go after me....That's what happens in India."

Rahul had said that former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, M.K. Stalin, son of M. Karunanidhi of DMK, BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal's son Anurag Thakur, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan's son Abhishek Bachchan, Dhirubhai Ambani's sons Mukesh and Anil were all examples of dynastic legacy in India.

Rahul had also declared he is "absolutely ready" to be the party's prime ministerial candidate in the next general elections. However, he made it clear that the decision has to be finally approved by the party.

"I am absolutely ready to do that," Rahul, who is widely tipped to succeed his mother Sonia as the Congress president, had said - it being the first time the Gandhi scion has publicly affirmed his readiness to be the Congress choice for the top post.