Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, in his latest book, argues that Pranab Mukherjee should have been made Prime Minister in 2012 instead of Manmohan Singh, who was then recovering from health issues. Aiyar believes this would have prevented the "paralysis of governance" and "doomed" any prospects the Congress might have had to form UPA-III. He also criticizes the government's handling of the Anna Hazare-led agitation and the Commonwealth Games scandal, which he believes contributed to the party's downfall in the 2014 general elections.
'I had to persuade him. I think he was a sceptic to begin with, but later on he was convinced that what we were doing was the right thing to do, that there was no other way out.'
Dr Singh will host a dinner for the visiting dignitary, who will also attend the third meeting of partners of the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation. \n\n
Did you find his answers satisfactory? Or could he have been more forthcoming? On a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 is worst and 10 is excellent), how do you rate his answers?
Hailed as the architect of India's economic reforms, former prime minister Manmohan Singh in one his last interviews had said in 2019 that the country's economy was 'over-regulated', the government exerted control and interferences were aplenty with even regulators having 'morphed into controllers'.
'A man who brought about the greatest set of economic reforms in the country, who changed the course of Indian history, cannot be considered weak.' 'A man who fought for nuclear reforms even though his majority in Parliament was threatened, he cannot be considered weak.'
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday left for home after an overnight halt here while on his way back from the US where he held talks with President Barack Obama and met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, besides addressing the United Nations General Assembly.
'If anyone is able to understand the importance of Modi's endeavours to revive the economy -- even against opposition from sections of his own saffron brotherhood -- it is the former prime minister,' says Amulya Ganguli.
Both prime ministers believed in crafting schemes to help the common man. Modi used quite effectively the instruments Dr Singh introduced. In assessing Modi's success with many schemes, Dr Singh's fundamental work should not be ignored, points out A K Bhattacharya.
Singh's humility and grounded nature were highlighted in a heartfelt social media memoir by Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Social Welfare (Independent Charge) Asim Arun.
'Whenever you see him on television or anywhere else, he gives off grandfatherly vibes.'
Political conflicts with deep social roots are not resolved through ill-conceived surreptitious deals. They require a bold political vision to resolve them. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech at the recent annual conference on internal security showed a vision that is cynical, sterile and bureaucratic, writes RN Ravi, former special diretor of the Intelligence Bureau
The Congress leaders maintained that such propaganda against the party would not work and the truth shall prevail.
When the prime minister thanked his predecessor during his Independence Day speech, it was significant because it was Dr Singh's final acknowledgement that political support for reform is essential.
Two things have thrown a spanner in the works for the prime minister and the Congress. One is the UPA allies. The second development is the hike in the inflation rate, which jumped to 11.05 percent.
In his speech, PM emphasised on the need to bring India's current account deficit under control and reduce demand for gold and petroleum products.
Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who had several meetings with Indian leaders during his nine-years at the helm, feels Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is a "nice man" for his country. Musharraf, who met Dr Singh a number of times, including during his visit to New Delhi in 2005, said he liked the Indian prime minister.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants to encourage what he hopes is beginning of change of the Pakistani mindset towards India.
Message Board: Is Manmohan Singh the weakest PM ever?
It was a quiet birthday for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who turned 78 on Sunday. President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari sent flowers and wished the prime minister on the occasion. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati called up Dr Singh and greeted him. Among those who wished the prime minister on the occasion are Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
Former The Energy and Resources Institute chief R K Pachauri, who is facing sexual harassment charges, has resigned from the prestigious Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change, which has been accepted.
Singh's meeting with Malik comes a week ahead of his talks with a cross-section of political parties and separatists groups from the state.
As a 1000-strong Indian community applauded, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on a rain-filled Sunday evening unveiled a bust of and marker on India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Singapore's Asian Civilisation Museum.
'People have a certain perception about my political leanings -- and rightly so.' 'But I am an actor first, and then an activist.' 'And I am not an accidental actor.' 'There was no way I was going to be dishonest with my acting,' Anupam Kher tells Veenu Sandhu.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is slated to meet United States President Barack Obama in London on April 2 on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.
Three days after Rahul Gandhi's blunt attack against the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday declared that the "whole party" stands behind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
'Our problem is not a budget deficit but a trust deficit. We need to trust our institutions and industries to innovate and lead. That is the way forward for India.'
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, V Narayanasamy on Tuesday rubbished Time magazine's description of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as an "underachiever".
Chatterji's posting at PMO is seen as a major move to bring the PMO and the Congress closer.
Manmohan Singh represented the finest aspects of India, asserts Aakar Patel.
Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh continues to enjoy immunity in an alleged human rights violation case filed against him in a United States court even though he is no longer the head of the State, the US department of justice has said.
Clue: It's an actor who has just bagged his first BAFTa nom...
We, at rediff.com, decided to quiz you on Dr Singh and other heads of state, who preceded him. Take the challenge!
'Our prime minister is highly educated, humble and has a great track record.'
'Narasimha Rao asked me why China was doing so well in attracting foreign investments and I gave my frank opinion.' 'I told him that giving thrust to exports had to be a national effort.' 'But in India, the system was very centralised in the Government of India and the state governments had no role to play.'
'While it may not be an out-and-out hit job on the Gandhi family, the movie is all about one aspect: How Dr Singh struggled with the family and the party all through his prime ministership,' notes Utkarsh Mishra.
'History will never forgive Manmohan Singh for having ended the Indian growth story and created a culture of entitlement instead of creating a culture of hard work and development,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Disappointed over the last minute holding up of the Teesta River Agreement, the Bangladesh government on Tuesday said that Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, must reassure the people of Bangladesh that the hold-up is temporary and that the agreement will be signed soon.
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