Panaji: A restive Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday ducked a question on the increasing number of student suicides in Maharashtra during his 59 second press conference at the Goa University.

The Congress general secretary was at the varsity to interact with students as part of his nationwide youth interaction programme which, party officials say, allows him to understand the young minds of India.

However, the first question by a television mediaperson on the increasing number of student suicides in Maharashtra turned out to be the last as Rahul Gandhi preferred to duck it.

The 39-year-old son of Congress President Sonia Gandhi instead preferred to make a random statement on the rejuvenation of the Congress-backed National Students Union of India (NSUI) and its internal elections, ignoring the question on suicides.

"Earlier NSUI leaders used to be nominated. Now the students are going to choose their leader in an election. I am here to see the progress," Gandhi said, refusing to take any more questions and immediately heading for his vehicle. IANS