New Delhi: Manmohan Singh had very few admirers in the Congress in his 10 years as prime minister. He was often at the receiving end of party snipers who found his economic reforms agenda and lack of mass base a liability.
But six years after demitting office, he has become the Congress’ go-to man whenever it needs a credible face and voice to take on Narendra Modi, his successor, be it on the India-China stand-off, the state of the economy, or management of the Covid-19 crisis.
Singh’s blistering attack on Modi last Monday, when he indirectly accused him of spreading “disinformation” about Chinese intrusions across the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, and questioned his “diplomacy and decisive leadership”, was not something new. Whenever the Congress has found its attacks on Modi government failing to resonate with the people, it has fielded the former PM, whatever be the issue — demonetisation and “mismanagement” of the economy being prominent examples.
The former PM also hit out at the Modi government for the country’s Covid testing rate, saying: “India can’t conquer Covid-19 without aggressive testing.”
In February, Singh, also an economist, former RBI governor and Union finance minister, had advised Modi to “stop headline management and focus on reviving the economy”.
Also read: Modi shouldn’t allow China to use his words as vindication of their Galwan stance: Manmohan
‘History will be kinder’
In 2014, Manmohan Singh had hoped that history would be kinder to him than the media. That holds truer for his own party’s assessment of his worth.
On many occasions, Singh had found himself publicly rebuffed by his colleagues, most notably in 2013, when Rahul Gandhi tore into an ordinance brought in by Singh’s administration to protect convicted MPs and MLAs.
In 2009, Singh’s joint statement with then-Pakistan PM Yousaf Raza Gilani in Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh had caused quite an upheaval within the Congress party for what the party leaders believed was “diluting” India’s stand against terrorism.
‘Sober and measured voice’
Congress leaders say the former PM’s “sober and measured voice” and his popular perception as a “man of governance” is being capitalised on to attack Modi.
Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid said Singh’s voice stands in contrast to that of PM Modi. “When you have a PM who is so aggressive and pushy, it is understood that people will want to turn to a more steady and calm voice amid the chaos. He is that voice,” Khurshid told ThePrint.
However, Khurshid also admitted that the former PM is using bolder language than usual.
“He is not a pushy person; he is very withdrawn and careful with his words. But in the present circumstances, he is using tougher words because this is a very critical moment in all of India’s history. So, he is being much more assertive,” he said.
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Contrast with Rahul Gandhi
What Khurshid didn’t say is how Singh’s measured and dignified language even in his attacks on his successor stand in sharp contrast with Rahul Gandhi’s shrill and no-holds-barred diatribe against Modi, which ends up alienating people.
Gandhi’s attack and criticism of the BJP government’s handling of the country’s stand-off with China has included punning on the PM’s name in a tweet, calling him ‘Surender Modi’ by playing on the word ‘surrender’ in the context of the Congress leader’s perception of the government’s handling of the border affairs.
Gandhi has been known for this though — after India’s surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2016, he had accused Modi of indulging in “khoon ki dalali”, for what he believed was his attempt to seek political capital out of the death of soldiers in terror attacks.
“You are hiding behind the blood of the soldiers… aap khoon ki dalali kar rahe ho,” he had said.
Gandhi has often received flak for using ‘intemperate’ language to attack PM Modi.
Also read: What Manmohan Singh said about quitting after Rahul Gandhi’s Ordinance act: Montek Ahluwalia
Man of governance
Political analysts suggest that the choice of Singh as the primary Congress leader to attack Modi at a critical moment like this is because of the measured approach he brings to the table — as opposed to that of Rahul Gandhi.
“Singh’s rhetoric is more piercing because he embodies expertise, experience and a competent record of governance, which can be more persuasively employed to highlight and condemn the governance failures of the BJP, unlike Rahul Gandhi, whose rhetoric appears flippant and shallow because it lacks all those markers of credibility,” said Asim Ali, political analyst and research associate at the Centre for Policy and Research (CPR).
“He (Rahul Gandhi) hasn’t held even a junior-level administrative post in his career,” Ali pointed out.
Congress leaders agree that Singh’s perception as a “man of governance” makes him the right choice to lead this attack.
“He is seen as a leader — particularly on the governance aspect. People know he has great expertise. He changed the economic shape of the country starting with liberalisation in the 90s,” Veerappa Moily, another minister in Manmohan Singh government, told ThePrint.
Moily said Singh gave his ministers “immense liberty”.
“I was one of his colleagues, so I know just the kind of liberty ministers enjoyed in his government. He used to call meetings, he used to consult with everyone,” the senior leader said.
Another reason why the Congress has chosen Singh is to emphasise its governance achievements — Singh is widely credited for uplifting the economy during UPA-1 and ensuring a rapid decline in poverty.
“Because of the scandals of UPA-2, the Congress had, counterproductively, not emphasised enough its remarkable achievements in governance. This new approach signals a shift: an effort to own its governance record and contrast it with the governance failures of the BJP,” Ali said.
Khurshid added that Singh is seen as someone who enjoys great goodwill in the country, and that “should not go to waste”.
“Our reading is that there is still huge respect and goodwill for him in the country, and that should not be allowed to go waste,” the former external affairs minister said.
Also read: What if coronavirus crisis had hit India under Manmohan Singh, not Modi
A reminder of ‘great’ foreign relations
The Congress also hopes to remind people how “great” India’s relationships with its neighbours were under Singh’s rule.
“His greatest achievement is that under him we saw a peaceful rise of India and China — both countries grew exponentially,” Congress MP and former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said.
Tewari added that while there were tensions between the two countries, they “did not hurt the economic trajectory of either”.
“In fact, India and China were the only two countries that managed to escape the impact of the 2008 global recession,” he said.
Moily said Singh constantly reiterated that “we have to live peacefully with neighbours”.
“He always maintained an excellent relationship with the neighbours. So, he enjoys respect on the diplomacy and foreign policy fronts too,” Moily said.
BJP’s response to Singh
It’s because of Manmohan Singh’s stature and standing among the people as a man of integrity and erudition that the BJP also prefers to target Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders, often seeking to downplay the former PM’s attacks with mild rebuttals.
Modi had once attacked his predecessor over his government’s corruption record with a “bathing with a raincoat on” remark, but he also usually prefers not to join issue with him.
The BJP, however, has called the Congress’ attempts to put Singh at the forefront a “desperate last-ditch attempt”.
BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal told ThePrint: “The persistent attacks by Rahul, Sonia and Priyanka have fallen flat on its face. So, they are now turning towards him (Singh) when he was never given any attention as the PM. This is laughable.”
But for once, Manmohan Singh must be smiling at his party colleagues and ex-snipers indulgently.
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Unfortunately, inspite of being immensely intelligent and talented, far from being a leader, MMS has remained a lifelong bureaucrat allowing himself to be used by the Mother-Son duo when in power and later, due to his almost puppy like loyalty, even when not in power. Wonder what control they have over him, that he can tolerate the upstart who tore a decision on the Ordinance by Cabinate committee headed by him when he was about to meet with the Barak Obama in the US.
Bhakts, blind as you are or rather completely off your rockers. You are a shame to Hinduism, Bharat Mata, non violence, ability to respect and accept others and their religious as also cultural beliefs. You are a shame to side with those that fought against the freedom movement, killed the Mahatma and in just 7 years of misrule brought us down perceptually and in reality. Today when our territories are being taken you continue to live in denial and instead of taking the blame and moving with alacrity to safeguard our land and people you hide/use as your shield the Congress Party and Nehru-Gandhi family. Shame on you. If you really are so honest then you should for your utter misgovernance KUS RESIGN. No questions asked.
A spineless sycophant of Antonia Maino can in no way be imagined as a national leader. Mere knowledge in economics does not equal him Modi who is an iron man with iron dareness to fight against the anti-national forces harboured by the Congress party for the last seven decades. A
GO TO for what? The man has, except taking money directly done everything that should not have been done. He lent his clean image to start with and got all the TAM-ZAM and a royal lifestyle for 10 years. His residual clean image which is being propped up now is the only asset. He has nothing to contribute politically all he does is parrot what he is asked to. shamelessly.
Congrass can never THANK enough MAUNWRAT SINGH for a period of corruption through phone banking they were able to do during his time. china gained huge market access while HUNDREDS of INDIAN companies closed FACTORIES in ÌNDIA and shifted production to china. Indeed a time which made INDIA WEAK. What else congrass along with proselytizers and undereducated jhollawallas and rent a journalist want more.
Though few news channels and papers project Mounmohan and RG as good alternative to Govt ,people are not with them. We, people are expecting Brave leaders not the peaceful leaders who are always doing SCAMS,delay the development of Bharat and Entertaining pseudo secularism
Though few news channels and papers project Mounmohan and RG as good alternative to Govt ,people are not with them. We, people are expecting Brave leaders not the peaceful leaders who are always doing SCAMS,delay the development of Bharat and Entertaining pseudo secularism
Manmohan puppet singh was one of the worst Prime Minister of India. congress is anti hindu and anti National Party. We love our patriotic pm modiji and he is the best pm every we have had. modiji zindabady
What in God’s name is BJP doing? It should poach Manmohan Singh from Congress. He would be a great asset for BJP.
Let’s keep aside what happened inside the party. Let’s compare under his governance (1&2)
, what India achieved (economically and standard of living) .
The harm the corrupt & inept Nehru-Gandhi-Vadras have collectively done to India is unimaginable.
With all the resources India has, it should have been a reasonably developed country by the 1970s i.e by 3 decades after freedom in 1947, compare that with where we are today. Countries like South Korea, Japan & China which were totally destroyed after World War II are among the most advanced today; but we are still being hyphenated with Pakistan.
Manmohan Singh was an unexpected Prime Minister. He was never endorsed by the electorate and in fact lost elections. He made a back door entry through the Rajya Sabha. His conscience if he had one, didn’t prevent him from doing so. Since he was never elected by the people of India, his loyalty was never towards them but towards the Gandhi parivar whose faithful retainer he remained.
The Congress’ reliance on Manmohan Singh is because they are not allowing other talented leaders to grow within the party. They are paying a heavy price for this folly.
As a Finance Minister in Narsimha Rao’s regime, He had some contributions to take care of the follies and financial misrules of Cong regime then but as a Prime Minister , he was utter failure for the reasons known to all of you and us.
I think this party should take rest and behave like other parties in opposition no use crying on split milk should look forward establishing in next term value old guards take them into confidence restructure the party respecting the old tradition learning from past leaders
The revelation that Congress (UPA-1) wanted to cede Siachen to Pakistan is another nail in the coffin of credibility of the Congress and unfortunately of Dr Singh, by default.
Congress cannot be trusted anymore. The BJP is acceptable inspite of their minor faults.
Vajpayee wanted to exchange or cede a few kashmir districts. Musharraf was not ready and he said he has not brought the maps.
A realist sees it as PoK and aksai chin are irrecoverable areas. Vajpayee was a realist and only he could have considered completely stopping the conflict by a bit of exchange of territory. If congress ever tries, they would be called names.
Congress has a serious problem – the country is now aware that the “First Family’s” interest is above the country’s interest.
RahulG’s foolish utterances and tweets have damaged his credibility beyond repair. No one takes him seriously any more.
And MadamG, the less said the better. Filing 100s of FIRs against Arnab was a huge mistake. People now view the Congress as nothing more than street thugs with a half-wit as a future leader.
Of course he will be.
On his watch parliamentary democracy was made subservient to unconstitutional NAC.
On his watch he almost gave siachin away.
On his watch dragon occupied thousands of sq km of Bharat territory.
On his watch A to Z mega scams were rampant.
On his watch maximum bombings and terrorist attacks rocked our country.
On his watch his home minister did not let white suit get dirty while walking on blood soaked streets of Mumbai.
Well educated, good economist with slave and servile attitude and mentality, a mute spectator to mayhem and soul crushing of Bharat.
Your soul might have been crushed, but bharat didnt lose an inch of land and neither any soldier on LAC. If china stay put for a couple of months that is not ceding territory. It was handled in the smoothest way possible at the diplomatic level and they were evicted.
Why is it not possible now. Isn’t the nation’s soul crushed for losing lives in such numbers when it could be salvaged through talks.
Demon was a huge kickback of sorts. The war chest thus built is helping to buy out so many states.
This by no means proves that Manmohan Singh is any different, wiser, more forceful and more influential than he was in his avatar as PM for 10 wasted years. This only shows how totally bankrupt Congress has become under Rahul that they have to worship Manmohan as a ‘saviour’ now.
It is unfortunate that RG’s public admonition of the ordinance has been talked about as RG taking on MMS. In fact, ordinance presented a perfect timing for RG to enter into the mainstream. RG never saw it coming that the whole media will go on him for tearing down the ordinance even without talking about the ordinance. RG wasn’t taking a dig at the government but saying he can aggressively change the political narrative. He could have internally asked the government to withdraw. But, he was being pushed for taking up the lead role for the next election. He thought ordinance presented a good setting to enter into the election fray.
Neither was MMS hert nor RG intended that way. SG and RG have great respect for MMS. Whole of india is thankful to MMS and the congress voter are thankful to SG because she chose MMS over other veterans with suspect credentials on corruption.
History will be surely kind to MMS. Also when nationalism hysteria settles down, SG would be seen as an apostle from rome. She has been the unsung hero or projected very negatively by the media currently.
Congress should reveal the 2008 MoU signed with Communist Party of China.
Well, this man Mr. SINGH lost his credibility and has no right to yell now. Nobody really cares him and his statements.
Even though Dr. Singh is highly respected as an individual, he has 0 credibility left because of the traitorous, corrupt anti-national mob (aka Congress) he is aligned with. That’s just the sad reality.
RahulG’s antics and foolish language has alienated a very large % of people who now view Congress as working against India’s interests and are paid mouth-pieces of China.
Yes Maun Mohan Singhs policy of “living peacefully with our neighbours” entailed giving up and surrendering to hostile interests whether it be incursions in Ladhak by the Chinese or the Wily Pakistanis for whom the Sardar had a soft spot so much so he came upon with a daft idea of giving up our hold on Siachin..Thank god for the army and then COAS JJ Singh who put his foot down and vetoed man mogan singh..but Manmogan Singhs eternal shame will be Sharm al sheikh where as the Indian PM hee accepted the Pakistanis charge of indian intervention in baluchistan which was balony