Whenever you see Manmohan Singh, the image of a politician with a difference comes to mind. The image of a leader who is honest beyond doubt- nobody has ever acused him of being a part of a scam financial or otherwise. One who never promoted his family. Then why does he sound so sad and helpless? Why doesn’t anybody come to his rescue when his policies are attacked by his own allies and by his opponents?
It cannot be due to coalition politics alone.
Narsimha Rao managed a coalition govt and carried on with financial reforms in the most difficult of circumstances. He led a minority govt. A.B. Vajpayee handled the tantrums of Mamta and Jayalalitha and the pressure of RSS still he never threw up his arms in despair. As an academician and technocrat the reaction is acceptable but a politician needs to be more skilled. When Sonia Gandhi selected him for the top job, the division of labour was clear and visible- Madam Gandhi will take care of the political mess and he will take care of the governance, but this doesn’t seem to be working.
Where he failed -
He is an honest person agreed, but does that absolve him of the sins commited by his own partymen and ministers. Will he as a CEO of a industrial house ignore the unethical practices of the subordinate staff? Is he oblivious of what is going on under his nose. Doesn’t he know that Arjun Singh is hell bent on destroying whatever high quality educational institutions we have, or that Ambumani Ramdoss is taking out his personal vendetta against Dr Venugopal in the name of reforms in AIIMS. Whether it’s a Syed Sibtey Razi in Jharkhand, or a Buta Singh in Bihar or a HR Bhardwaj in the case of the unfreezing of Qutarocchi’s account, they are his own partymen and colleagues in the cabinet. For the first time in the History of Independent India a cabinet minister was declared a fugitive.
He may standout as an educated , honest and honourable man in the company of Mayawati, H.D. Deve Gowda, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Narendra Modi but he is the most helpless and sad Prime minister we have had. Chandrashekhar with his 26 MPs and Charan Singh who could never prove majority on the floor of the house looked more powerful than him.
from Vishesh :)
from Reema :)
13 Comments
October 26, 2007 at 11:40 am
The Prime Minister should also be the Leader of his party, but with the Indian National Congress, it’s Party Chairperson and Parliamentary Party Chairperson is Sonia Gandhi, and the General Secretary is her son Rahul Gandhi.
How do we know who is really calling the shots?
Isn’t it possible that he is sad because even though he holds the top post, he is being made to dance like a puppet on a string.
So even if he is totally honest, the motives of those who pull the strings maybe not.
That by default makes him untrustworthy.
That is enough reason to be sad.
October 26, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Indian politics itself is a sad place to be and
then being pushed around not only by people in opposition but also your own party members is even worse.
But I think Mr. Singh knew what he in for by choosing the PM position.
He might have ‘the getting thrown into a trash can’ expression, but as you say Prerna, others in his position have at least tried… so maybe he wants to be a
‘behind the scene man’ after all.
October 26, 2007 at 4:55 pm
For time being he’s “Naam ke Vaste” PM.. All waiting for Rahul to come up… He was too young during this dumb selection
October 27, 2007 at 8:28 am
see..no one takes him seriously..everyone knows only Sonia madam can kick their ass..so every big decisions are with the consent of Sonia Gandhi..
he is not the real leader..with no leadership qualities..we can call him a adminstrator.but .not a leader…
October 27, 2007 at 8:34 am
Thanks Little Indian for your views.
Madhuri I am not sure he understood what he is bargaining for when he took this post. Being a Finance Minister under a manipulative and seasoned politician like Narsimha Rao and managing a coalition govt are two very different things.
Rahul doesn’t look promising to me at the moment. I am not sure he is worth waiting Bharath
October 27, 2007 at 11:41 am
The practice of “inheriting” a state or kingdom to rule, was abolished in 1947.
Sadly only on pen and paper.
India maybe Shining, but we haven’t progressed where it matters.
For in our minds, we can only survive as “subjects” of a ruling dynasty.
It makes a mockery of our democracy when we show the world, in a nation of billions,
only someone from the Gandhi family by birth or by marriage can lead India.
Or be the Prime Minister.
Who is Sonia Gandhi representing at the UN, or in China?
The country India? the Indian National Congress? or simply the name Gandhi?
October 29, 2007 at 10:03 am
Manmohan Singh does not have a personality like Rajiv Gandhi or Indira Gandhi but he has sound understanding of the Finance section and the Fin Ministry is doing well to get some reforms thats one of the main reasons for the Stock Market rise. Singh does not come across as a leader, he is too mild and I dont really think he is suitable but then atleast he doesnt seem to be corrupt and hes not a criminal, so hes better than the rest.
October 29, 2007 at 11:11 am
He should be the finance minister then Aseem and not the Prime minister. Letting the corrupt enjoy the privileges of power is worse than being corrupt yourself.
October 30, 2007 at 12:28 pm
yes u are right, but then who else can be the Prime min?? sab to chor hai na
October 30, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Id like to be the PM once
I dont mind the headaches and hectic schedules I just wanna try once hehhee
October 30, 2007 at 2:05 pm
In the name of secularism if Soniaji decides to adopt you it would be easy
) You won’t need any other qualification after that. I will vote for you.
Best of luck Aseem.
March 20, 2008 at 6:41 pm
sir, i doesn’t say my pm is helpless or sad,because in the coalition government pm looks all partie portfallio.
June 11, 2008 at 4:08 pm
ANY LEADER FOR ALL THAT MATTER,..IS…. EFFECTIVE OR DYNAMIC TO THE ‘EXTENT OF THE ‘CARDS’ HE/SHE HOLDS..!!!
THIS GUY…. MANMOHAN SINGH IS.. ABSOLUTELY ‘BANKRUPT’ ON THIS ACCOUNT..NO AMOUNT OF ‘POSTURING’ OR
‘PRETENDING’ OR FEIGHNING ‘ IS.. GOING..TO HELP..HIS POLICIES ARE AS ‘BALD AS HIS PATE…. HE IS ONE OF THOSE MANY. MANY,
LEADERS ,AT THE END OF IT ALL ..!!! WRITE A SAD BOOK .. A-LA- ADVANI ???? gorbachev ???? !!! tony blair!!!???? IN ESSENCE BLAME
OTHERS.. .. THIS IS ONE PROMINENT FEATURE OF A WEAK LEADER..you will see !!!! THEIR INHERENT WEAKNESS ..INHIBITS
‘ACTION’ ..MORE-SO ‘GOOD ACTION..’
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