Rahul Gandhi [Images] on Thursday said he would 'refuse the post of prime minister now' as he does not have the experience required for the top post.

"Now ... I would refuse," he said at a press conference in Kolkata when asked whether he would accept prime ministership in the near future. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee [Images] was also present at the press meet.

"I do not think I have the experience to be the prime minister of the country right now," Gandhi, 39, said. 

He also said that he was working for developing a strong pro-poor Youth Congress, an initiative that has borne fruit in Punjab and Gujarat. During the nearly hour-long press meet, Gandhi responded to a volley of question ranging from the situation in Sri Lanka [Images] to the Left Front government's performance in West Bengal.

Gandhi listed two reasons for not accepting the prime ministership.

"One is that I am working in the organisation of the Congress party which I think is fundamental for this country. I think it is very important that a strong, progressive, pro-poor youth organisation is developed in this country and that is a very, very big priority of mine. Number two is I don't think I have the experience to be the prime minister of the country right now," he said.

Gandhi has batted strongly for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] continuing in the post if the United Progressive Alliance returns to power.

Gandhi struck an aggressive note on being quizzed about the Bofors controversy and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and whether he was prepared to apologise for them.

"There is absolutely nothing that I have to apologise about Bofors. It is a complete lie," he said, adding that the controversy was a calumny spread by the opposition for 20 years.