Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi [Images] sought the help of the media to create pressure on his mother - party president Sonia Gandhi [Images] - to take a break from work and go on a holiday.

Rahul told rediff.com that his mother always sticks to her guns and accomplishes everything she puts her mind to.

"My sister and I have been trying our level best to persuade her (Sonia) to take a break, keeping her health in mind. But we have not succeeded. Maybe I would take your (media) help to create pressure on her so that she takes a break. She is very firm and once she decides to do a particular thing, nothing can prevent her from doing that," Rahul said.

Sonia Gandhi had to be hospitalised after an asthmatic attack and was admitted to the ICU for several days, raising concerns amongst the Congress leadership.

When informed that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayavati was finally visiting the drought-affected region of Bundelkhand, he said that as chief minister of the state, she had every right to do so.

"I have taken up the issue with the Congress president and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images]. I have given my suggestions on how the delivery system may be improved. A central team is going there soon to take stock of the situation and submit its report," he said.

Rahul refused to divulge the contents of his conversation with Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani when the two met recently. "A private conversation is private," he said, adding that the BJP is a political adversary, nothing more.

The All-India Congress Committee general secretary said that the second leg of his tour would begin in the southern states, but may not include Karnataka.

Gandhi said he plans to encourage greater participation from the youth so that they do not feel left out. Rahul, who is being projected by the party as the potential prime minister, said the complaints he was getting were regarding the distance of the political class from young people. "They do not feel a part of politics," he said.

"The general issue is that the youth needs more access to politics, more access to decision-making and a new type of thinking," he added.

Additional reportage: PTI