I'll welcome Rahul Gandhi to UPA government: Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) With Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi agreeing to take a more proactive role, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said he would welcome him in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"I have always said that I would welcome Rahul's entry (in the government)," the prime minister told reporters after Vice-President Hamid Ansari's oath-taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Rahul Gandhi had last month expressed his "readiness" for a more "proactive" role following which around 10 party members in the Lok Sabha petitioned Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to make him Leader of House in the Lok Sabha.

The congress general secretary had said a decision (on him playing a bigger role) had been taken and its timing will be decided by the party president and the prime minister.

Sonia Gandhi had earlier said that it was for Rahul to decide on playing a larger role in the party.

Party leaders have been making demands that Rahul Gandhi should play a larger role in the organisation beyond his present responsibilities in the Youth Congress and National Students Union of India.