Manmohan Singh visits Kolkata

The PM of India Manmohan Singh was in Kolkata yesterday to attend the bicentenary celebrations of the Indian Museum. Also present along with him were governor M.K. Narayanan and CM Mamata Banerjee. Nathaniel Wallich who was a Danish botanist had made a request for formation of the Indian Museum in Kolkata exactly 200 years ago through a draft. He had thought that there was a necessity for a public repository in Kolkata which would serve as a reference guide for the scholars and naturalists. The museum was recently given a makeover and is a major tourist attraction spot in Kolkata with its unique combination pack of antiques which have been restored with...

Manmohan Singh could not reap the benefits

The purported statements of decision paralysis against Manmohan Singh are based on grounds which are mostly untenable and misconceived, may also be distorted. Manmohan Singh’s announcement of handing over the baton to the next generation may obviate any further controversy, but it can only work as a fig-leaf for the aspiring Nehru-Gandhi descendant, Rahul Gandhi. Perhaps it will not be an understatement if the allegations of decision paralysis are pointed to the Congress party instead of Manmohan Singh. The placid mannerism of our vastly learned Prime Minister failed to combat the emerging political complexities and contradictions, where the Congress President should have stood by Manmohan Singh more firmly. Ironically, no Prime Minister of India could live up to the expectation of all the parties and citizens. Why should we attempt to create a distinction? Manmohan Singh had never been an in-born politician and his world reckoned economic background had been proved inadequate to tackle the ongoing turmoil in the Indian political fraternity. Had there been any Prime Minister who had to embark upon with so many uncertainties and scams? Neither Manmohan Singh had ever been astute or ruthlessly ambitious, nor would he assume the chair without the contemporary political intricacies, whereby Rahul Gandhi could not be considered for the most elite post of the country because of his age and inexperience. Sonia Gandhi had to refrain to avoid the foreigner label. Rather, it can be said more bluntly that Sonia and the Congress top brass selected Manmohan Singh to bypass Pranab Mukherjee, who would exhibit high caliber but would never like to be a toy under the remote control of 10, Janpath. How could the power-hungry Nehru- Gandhi family bear with such a stronghold leader after the scary experience of Narsimha Rao? However, Manmohan had to face innumerable ups and downs in his eventful stint. Whether the Coalgate scam or 2G spectra, nothing clicked in favor of the Government spearheaded by Manmohan Singh. It is indeed true that Manmohan Singh botched to inspire his team to challenge the oppositions with poise. The reality is that Manmohan Singh has shown guts to take some firm decisions. Nobody has forgotten his tough stance in case of nuke deal. The revolutionary decisions of allowing Foreign Direct Investment in retail or releasing control on Petrol or Diesel can be termed as some of the landmark decisions that his Government had initiated, which will spread far reaching tentacles in Indian economical firmament. Manmohan Singh Government could achieve another milestone off late, whereby the recommendations...

Tragic exit of Manmohan Singh

Life is a roller coaster – true to its definition, Manmohan Singh has perhaps also realized that even the most dignified post without power can only stain one’s credentials. Manmohan Singh, in his apparently last press meeting as Prime Minister has become more nostalgic for obvious reasons. It is yet to be unraveled whether the history will remember him as the weakest Prime Minister, India has ever produced, but his self-defenses are too inadequate to set Congress back on tracks. If Manmohan Singh is credited with changing the face of Indian economy by conceiving revolutionary concept of globalization, the ridiculous silence of the Prime Minister has found himself at the centre many a controversy in the scam-ridden sojourn of UPA-2. Manomhan Singh’s eventful stint has taken another turn, perhaps for the worse, when he announced the handing over of the baton to a new Prime Minister, which does never necessarily mean, Rahul Gandhi, the poster boy of Congress. Perhaps Manmohan Singh’s scintillating batting innings as Narasimha Rao’s lieutenant had made him a choice for the chair of Prime Minister way back in 2004. As the Nehru-Gandhi descendant Rahul Gandhi was too junior in 2004 and the label of a foreigner had restrained Sonia Gandhi from assuming the office of the Prime Minister, Congress had to look forward to someone, who would never dare to disobey the Congress president, but whose polished image could cast a magical spell on the Indian citizens. Battered by the scary memories of Narasimha Rao, Congress never looked up at able Pranab Mukherjee, who would decline to assume the position which was just by initials but exercise his power as PM more capably. Congressmen, by heredity are drawn to power and they had picked up non-astute Manmohan Singh as he could remain as a puppet in the hands of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Perhaps it was gaffe of the Congress party not to allow the emergence of natural leadership for which they have been paying through their noses for last couple of years. Manmohan Singh sparkled as a gladiator in the most controversial nuke deal issue and his guts perhaps even stunned the Congressmen as the threat of disassociation of CPM could not deviate Manmohan from his strict stance on Nuke Deal. Mulayam Singh, the best turn coat politician appeared as a savior of UPA-1 and Congress could win even more seats in 2009. Sonia Gandhi did not have any option other than reinstating Manmohan Singh for the second term. Ironically the candid Manmohan has started...

The Manmohan banter

With the General Elections due this year the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh has rung the bells to openly declare the end of his tenure. With widespread roars of his removal due to the failure of the UPA II government the Indian Congress Party is looking for a swift makeover. After a long has the real Manmohan emerged from behind the curtains to speak his mind on Modi and more. He has declared in an interview that the General Election 2014 will usher in a new PM to whom he will hand over the reins of the nation. The Congress party has definitely lost its credibility among the masses. It has been established beyond doubt through their poll debacle in the last conducted Assembly elections held in the states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Mizoram. Loss of trust seems to be hounding the Indian National Party which could spell doom for it in 2014 ironically its 127th year of existence since commencement. The crowning of an able, young and fit leader may however turn the tables in its favor. There have been innumerable reasons that have culminated to this irreparable loss of face, fame and fortune for the Congress. There has been uproar against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi for having received kickbacks from realty major Delhi Land & Finance. The Congress and its coalition government, United Progressive Alliance have been blamed for vacillating governance and its failure to revive the Indian economy. The commonwealth games scam, the 2G spectrum scam, the coal scam and many more controversial issues have completely wiped away the incredible reforms which the UPA I had achieved with Manmohan Singh at the helm. The main point of their disrepute arose from their lackadaisical attitude to punish those guilty of corruption charges. To rub in salt into the open wounds of the UPA II, India encountered intensifying fiscal deficit, inflation, elevated subsidy bills and diminishing GDP. All these widespread nuisances were deepened by bad policy making. The entire Congress party and their leaders completely lost their touch and communication with the people of the nation. To further fuel their crisis Rahul Gandhi their projected leader was in adept on all grounds failing to justify the position he was being groomed for. Neither could he envision a strategy to counter the barbs against the Congress nor plan any full form reforms. It is arguable whether Modi will be a good or bad PM of India if at all...

Press Conference of Manmohan Singh

The much hyped press conference of Manmohan Singh concludes with some vital decisions like his exit, Rahul Gandhi’s entry and blast on Modi. Perhaps this had been the last press conference of Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister of India, but he tried to break the pseudo shell of candid face and silent spectator. He has lashed upon Narendra Modi and fueled the notorious issue of Godhra. Manmohan Singh has accepted the failures of the Government in various issues like price hikes or scams. Dr. Singh has also said that Rahul Gandhi has got traits to lead the Government after the General Election 2014. He has also said that it is better to remain mum than to be proactive in leading a riot in Ahmedabad. Perhaps his intention was to offer a clean chit to Rahul, who can start fresh, if Congress comes into power. Perhaps he had been nostalgic, when he said that history would remember him for his...