Eclipses can be predicted, not Rahul's appearance: Prakash Javadekar

New Delhi: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday took a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his mysterious ‘leave’, saying even eclipses can be predicted but not the "appearance" of the Congress Vice President.

"In the prediction of a solar or lunar eclipse, certain calculations are involved. But there can be no calculations to determine as to when Rahul Gandhi will appear. So what can I say," said Javadekar, Minister for Environment and Forests.

He was reacting when journalists sought his comment on reports that the Congress Vice President would be back in action to attend a 'Kisan' rally here on April 19 against Land Ordinance brought out by the Narendra Modi government. Rahul went on the sabbatical on February 22 and since then there have been questions over his absence from the public scene.

The rally is significant as it is being held on the eve of the second part of the Budget session of Parliament at a time when almost the entire opposition has joined ranks against the Ordinance, which is being dubbed by them as "anti-farmer and pro-corporate".

When asked yesterday whether Rahul will be attending the rally, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh had said, "all senior leaders will participate in it. Is he not among senior leaders Rahul is also among the senior leaders". Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was in Amethi recently, had said Rahul will be back among people "very soon".