Putin thinks he is the next Gandhi ?

Russian premier Vladimir Putin gave a statement to the effect of calling himself the complete democrat.
At one point he says

"After the death of Mahatma Gandhi there's nobody to talk to,"

I have been a supporter of Putin. I think he is one of the smarter world politicians - someone who has done considerably well in rebuilding Russia in the past few years.

There might be a slight chance that the Mahatma was fooling the world. May be - in reality Gandhi was a black-belt karate expert who sipped wine while his countrymen were hungry. There is a possibility that Gandhi did covertly order a few wars to be fought, and that he did ask his people to indulge in violence.

But I have a small suspicion that you are seriously wrong on this count, Mr. Putin !