Monday, January 23 2006 14:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Virtually declining any party position at this stage, Rahul Gandhi today (Jan 23,2006) said he was still a learner and that his 'place' was among Congress workers.

"My place right now is among the people. My place right now is to learn and understand so that I can serve my people and party better," Rahul Gandhi, son of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, said in his first address to a party plenary.

Gandhi said he preferred to work at the grassroots leveland pledged that he would not let down the Congress.

The young leader, who left the podium after addressing the plenary, returned to make these comments apparently in response to overwhelming requests from the party leaders and workers, to take up an organisational post.

"I have one last thing to say someone once asked me my religion. Indian flag is my religion. I promised myself after my father (Rajiv Gandhi) died that I would serve the peoplethis flag represents," he said.

"Before taking up the job, I must know what our workers and people feel and need. Otherwise, I would be doing a disservice both to my religion and to my party," he said.