In his new book, Pranab Mukherjee recalls his interactions with Sonia Gandhi fondly and says her contribution to strengthening the Congress party has not received the attention it deserves.
Pranab Mukherjee was completely unlike P Chidambaram as a finance minister. And Mukherjee has pointed out that it was due to their differences in opinion on the economy.
Pranab Mukherjee, in what is perhaps his most candid articulation of views on Singh, opens up about the former PM in his latest book 'The Coalition Years'
What foreign investors need is certainty in tax laws and not a tax-free environment, the former President and finance minister argues to justify his controversial tax decision.
Pranab Mukherjee is the ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of Indian public life. The third volume of his political memoir is self-serving, hides too much and uses uncharacteristic innuendo.
In the capitals that will now be the unhappiest, a Kamala Harris victory was presumed, and a lot of actions and calculations were predicated upon that.
India-US trade in first 3 yrs under Biden was $122 bn, while it was $83 bn in Trump’s first term. Average trade surplus in India’s favour grew from $18 bn under Trump to $31 bn under Biden.
The Chinese aircraft has uncanny similarities to the American F-35 jet. There are claims that China copied the design. Cyber theft of F-35 design data was reported in 2009.
While we talk much about our military, we don’t put our national wallet where our mouth is. Nobody is saying we should double our defence spending, but current declining trend must be reversed.
“Pranab Mukherjee visits RSS HQ at Nagpur on their invitation to deliver a speech.”
How one can view it? We may explain it by this analogy.
A Preacher goes to Prostitutes house to give sermons.
He is a decent gentleman and his purpose is noble. He is invited with a smile probably with a plan.
What is end result?
Now they say gentlemen and noble men are pleased with their association. RSS is not treating anyone as ‘pariah’.
They will please anyone as long as it serves their target. They will capture a part of you and throw into dustbin.
Have we not seen its political wing BJP weaning away vulnerable members of opposition parties? Most of them are used, castrated and thrown away.
Are they really not treating anyone as ‘pariah’? Are they inviting everyone? They also say discussion is the way in democracy. Do they really believe in discussion and democracy?
Why don’t they open their platform for all inclusive dialogues with dalits, minorities and others? They are on a weak wicket and they cannot face truth about their past and present. They are idiotic supremacists and their ego and ‘supremacy’ does not permit them to talk to their ‘subjects’ as equals.
Why don’t they stop lynching by their various wings? Those affected are not begging RSS, its wings and their men for mercy. They demand their legal constitutional right.
Why they spread hatred towards other fellow Indians? They may be Muslims, Dalits, other minorities and secularists. They have equal right to speak and live in this country and they may have a view that is different from RSS and its wings.
Is it not true that RSS using these discussions with selected targets to break those bricks to infiltrate into fort which they are unable to conquer?
They are poor event managers. What they have achieved over 100 years excepting fooling people using a mask of development and Modi that too usurping a vacuum created and provided by others?
Ultimate aim and target of RSS, the so called ‘only cultural and not so political’ organization is to dilute opposition strength. They are trying to present and sell its image as ‘moderates’ to gullible public.
Why a decent gentleman like Pranab Mukherjee in spite of his vast political innings become pliable by warm nudges of RSS and get hoodwinked by them.
Why he should go there as one man army to convert them when they are brewed and cultured over 100 years with their radical right wing ideology.
We cannot say PM (Pranab Mukherjee) went there to serve his unfulfilled ambition of becoming PM (Prime Minister).
By opting for such an adventure he has forced his past associates to make additional effort to neutralize and overcome political damage of his visit. He has gifted RSS debating points and propaganda material to confuse people.
We have enemies for sure by way of too many such gentlemen in our midst and we do not know what they will do next.
Beware of such friends/ associates and make them aware of such pitfalls.
This is a view presented by ganram@ganesan312 in twitter on 08-06-2018.
Congratulations to Pranabda for your reality step to attend RSS meet. RSS organization made many dedicated nationals that tirelessly worked for good of India. RSS is the biggest organization that is based on Indian culture and developing strong good youth. Today people of India overwhelmingly have given opportunity to RSS trained persons to run the Government. It is an insult to people of India and against India culture to keep RSS outcast. Like other left countries, it would be good for India to make left thought outcast as early as possible. Left culture only remind characters like Stalin, Pol Pot etc. more dangerous than Hitler. Bengal has seen their manslaughter extremist cadre. Left thought never could make dedicated civil youth organization. Left ideologies is misfit on Indian soil.
1. The Congress party and Leftists are strong opponents of RSS ideology and that is understandable. I too have my disagreement with RSS ideology. However, when I see that so many of my relatives and educated friends are attracted to that ideology I realise that non-BJP parties should make efforts to understand (a) how RSS first succeeded in increasing its influence on the educated middle class and why today this class has become a staunch supporter of BJP and a bitter critic of the Congress party; and (b) whether any great objective will be fulfilled by saying that RSS ideology is based on fascist principles, without making efforts to offer a viable alternative to that ideology. 2. I am also reminded of fact that in sixties and seventies good many youth from the educated middle class were attracted to the leftists’ ideology but they moved away from the Left. 3. As regards acceptance by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India, of invitation from RSS to be a chief guest of valedictory function of volunteers’ training camp, my suggestion is that let us be patient and wait till 7th June, on which day Shri Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to address RSS volunteers.
If the speech is telecast live, I would love to watch it. Shri Pranab Mukherjee is not just a lifelong Congressman and someone with a distinguished record of public service, he is a student and admirer of the Constitution, both its plain text and how it has worked in practice. His audience would be treated to a masterly exposition of issues, some of which they view very differently. It will be fascinating to hear his views on secularism, the place of minorities and the underprivileged in national life, even the concept of Hindu Rashtra. I don’t think Mr Mukherjee is the man who will massage his message to say what the audience might wish to hear. 2. The RSS deserves praise for inviting him. They might also wish to call Shri Hamid Ansari. It is a powerful institution, its views and philosophy have a direct bearing on governance and national life. Dialogue with distinguished people from different points of view would enrich the organisation, help make its worldview more contemporary. It would also be a good idea to call economists and others whose views on liberalisation and privatisation are at variance with its orthodoxy. 3. The Congress should trust Pranabda. At a delicate time, Pramod Mahajan was meeting Sharad Pawar. When questioned, he said with a smile, My party trusts me implicitly. The Congress should think whether they are equally sure about Mr Pawar …
“Pranab Mukherjee visits RSS HQ at Nagpur on their invitation to deliver a speech.”
How one can view it? We may explain it by this analogy.
A Preacher goes to Prostitutes house to give sermons.
He is a decent gentleman and his purpose is noble. He is invited with a smile probably with a plan.
What is end result?
Now they say gentlemen and noble men are pleased with their association. RSS is not treating anyone as ‘pariah’.
They will please anyone as long as it serves their target. They will capture a part of you and throw into dustbin.
Have we not seen its political wing BJP weaning away vulnerable members of opposition parties? Most of them are used, castrated and thrown away.
Are they really not treating anyone as ‘pariah’? Are they inviting everyone? They also say discussion is the way in democracy. Do they really believe in discussion and democracy?
Why don’t they open their platform for all inclusive dialogues with dalits, minorities and others? They are on a weak wicket and they cannot face truth about their past and present. They are idiotic supremacists and their ego and ‘supremacy’ does not permit them to talk to their ‘subjects’ as equals.
Why don’t they stop lynching by their various wings? Those affected are not begging RSS, its wings and their men for mercy. They demand their legal constitutional right.
Why they spread hatred towards other fellow Indians? They may be Muslims, Dalits, other minorities and secularists. They have equal right to speak and live in this country and they may have a view that is different from RSS and its wings.
Is it not true that RSS using these discussions with selected targets to break those bricks to infiltrate into fort which they are unable to conquer?
They are poor event managers. What they have achieved over 100 years excepting fooling people using a mask of development and Modi that too usurping a vacuum created and provided by others?
Ultimate aim and target of RSS, the so called ‘only cultural and not so political’ organization is to dilute opposition strength. They are trying to present and sell its image as ‘moderates’ to gullible public.
Why a decent gentleman like Pranab Mukherjee in spite of his vast political innings become pliable by warm nudges of RSS and get hoodwinked by them.
Why he should go there as one man army to convert them when they are brewed and cultured over 100 years with their radical right wing ideology.
We cannot say PM (Pranab Mukherjee) went there to serve his unfulfilled ambition of becoming PM (Prime Minister).
By opting for such an adventure he has forced his past associates to make additional effort to neutralize and overcome political damage of his visit. He has gifted RSS debating points and propaganda material to confuse people.
We have enemies for sure by way of too many such gentlemen in our midst and we do not know what they will do next.
Beware of such friends/ associates and make them aware of such pitfalls.
This is a view presented by ganram@ganesan312 in twitter on 08-06-2018.
Congratulations to Pranabda for your reality step to attend RSS meet. RSS organization made many dedicated nationals that tirelessly worked for good of India. RSS is the biggest organization that is based on Indian culture and developing strong good youth. Today people of India overwhelmingly have given opportunity to RSS trained persons to run the Government. It is an insult to people of India and against India culture to keep RSS outcast. Like other left countries, it would be good for India to make left thought outcast as early as possible. Left culture only remind characters like Stalin, Pol Pot etc. more dangerous than Hitler. Bengal has seen their manslaughter extremist cadre. Left thought never could make dedicated civil youth organization. Left ideologies is misfit on Indian soil.
1. The Congress party and Leftists are strong opponents of RSS ideology and that is understandable. I too have my disagreement with RSS ideology. However, when I see that so many of my relatives and educated friends are attracted to that ideology I realise that non-BJP parties should make efforts to understand (a) how RSS first succeeded in increasing its influence on the educated middle class and why today this class has become a staunch supporter of BJP and a bitter critic of the Congress party; and (b) whether any great objective will be fulfilled by saying that RSS ideology is based on fascist principles, without making efforts to offer a viable alternative to that ideology. 2. I am also reminded of fact that in sixties and seventies good many youth from the educated middle class were attracted to the leftists’ ideology but they moved away from the Left. 3. As regards acceptance by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India, of invitation from RSS to be a chief guest of valedictory function of volunteers’ training camp, my suggestion is that let us be patient and wait till 7th June, on which day Shri Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to address RSS volunteers.
If the speech is telecast live, I would love to watch it. Shri Pranab Mukherjee is not just a lifelong Congressman and someone with a distinguished record of public service, he is a student and admirer of the Constitution, both its plain text and how it has worked in practice. His audience would be treated to a masterly exposition of issues, some of which they view very differently. It will be fascinating to hear his views on secularism, the place of minorities and the underprivileged in national life, even the concept of Hindu Rashtra. I don’t think Mr Mukherjee is the man who will massage his message to say what the audience might wish to hear. 2. The RSS deserves praise for inviting him. They might also wish to call Shri Hamid Ansari. It is a powerful institution, its views and philosophy have a direct bearing on governance and national life. Dialogue with distinguished people from different points of view would enrich the organisation, help make its worldview more contemporary. It would also be a good idea to call economists and others whose views on liberalisation and privatisation are at variance with its orthodoxy. 3. The Congress should trust Pranabda. At a delicate time, Pramod Mahajan was meeting Sharad Pawar. When questioned, he said with a smile, My party trusts me implicitly. The Congress should think whether they are equally sure about Mr Pawar …