A real shame: The fall and fall of Shri Manmohan Singh
When Shri Manmohan Singh became Prime Minister, several people – me included, applauded the decision believing that at last India had a credible and respected face to present to the world.
Over time, this hope began to give way to disillusionment – as Shri Singh’s performance began to fall short of expectations…and he seemed to get deeper and deeper into the cesspool of Indian politics.
It got to a point where I began to wonder whether Shri Singh had any personal convictions left at all – or was he just holding the position and the seat for the heir apparent.
But worse was yet to come…
In October, after a false show of bravado, the PM finally succumbed to the Left’s threat on the N-deal…
It is a pity that he has chosen to continue as a Prime Minister even though his personal convictions may not be aligned with the powers that be – and it is a shame that he continues to let himself be the front man for a government that is driven by remote control.
I will repeat what Acorn said in a post a few weeks back:
“Don’t shatter the illusions of hundreds of millions of people who overlook the follies of your government because they take your sincerity at face value. Please resign, and through the manner of your exit, prove your critics – The Acorn among them -wrong.”
Unfortunately Acorn is unlikely to be proven wrong and Shri Manmohan Singh’s is likely to go down in history as just another power-hungry politician…which is the real shame.
It did not have to end like that.
Karan Thapar, who was convinced that the PM would resign should the nuclear deal fall through wrote at that time:
“…If something as important as this is jettisoned for another 18 months in office, the verdict of history will be that the PM has opted for his own interests and his party’s interest over his country’s interests…“
Jettisoning the deal was exactly what the PM did…and that is Bharat’s real misfortune.
In a recent story about Indian Politics, The Economist noted (at the time when the communists’ opposition to the nuclear deal became clear):
…neither Mrs Gandhi nor Mr Singh had the nerve to take such a gamble (calling for early general elections) against the wishes of their coalition partners.
Most of these want to cling to their power and perks until nearer May 2009, the latest an election can be held.
I had hoped better from Shri Singh… but I have been disappointed.
Will we ever have leaders who put national interest above selfish gains and party politics?
Related Post: Do we deserve the politicians we get?
See also: An Open letter to Smt Sonia Gandhi
I share your views about Dr Manmohan Singh, that he should have resigned when forced to pull back on the nuclear deal due to the pressure from the traitor communists.
However, I got a different view from a politically connected Sikh gentleman in Delhi – his view was that Dr Manmohan Singh could not resign as that would create huge problems for Sonia Gandhi and be a slap on her face. Dr Singh, being the gentleman that he is, remembers that he became the PM as Sonia’s choice and can hardly insult his mentor.
Which makes sense to me in some ways. Although, I still think that he should have resigned.
I am not sure if the nuclear deal is in the best interests of India. It is debatable. But in any case, Mr. Singh has lost all credibility. The congress made a deal with the devil, communists, for power and they are paying for it, and so is the nation.
Shantanu, please have a read:
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/us-desperation-is-showing.aspx
Title: U.S. desperation is showing
By Brahma Chellaney
“In its frantic efforts to salvage the nuclear deal, the United States is sending out a politically incorrect message — that the deal matters more to it than the very survival of the Manmohan Singh government. The deal has not only divided India like no other strategic issue since Independence, but also plunged the world’s largest democracy into a political crisis, with the threat of a mid-term election looming large. Yet the unrelenting US pressure on India to proceed with the deal has only intensified.
An obvious question begging an answer is: What are the compelling interests America aims to advance through this deal that are prompting it to give high priority to getting this arrangement through, even if it results in Singh’s political downfall?”
And it goes on at link.
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