By: Pradeep Singh
Our ex-PM Manmohan Singh is once again in news. For various reasons, he has always been in news for wrong reasons, eight years running. His second terms was marked by a series of scams. He kept mum or spoke in support of the accused. His foreign policy, economic policy and his politics could never outgrow the 2009 Lok-Sabha victory. He was the first PM of India who got this post by serving. And he could never rise above the mentality of subservience. Neither self-respect nor scorn mattered when it was a matter of keeping his job. Along with many Indians, I too had high hopes that after retirement, he might develop a spine. That he may start speaking in national interest even if it conflicted with party interest. He proved to be no different from many other politicians.
In public life, timing is often more important than political events. The nature of an event may be trivial, but its timing carries all the meaning. It is much the same as in everyday life … laughter is not bad, however in a funeral it becomes something else.
The presence of Pakistan Foreign minister, Pakistan Ambassador and other guests along with Manmohan Singh in the house of congress leader Manishankar Aiyar on the 6th of this month, raises many doubts. It is immaterial whether they discussed Gujarat polls or not. Only a few days ago, a high ranking army official of Pak had openly tweeted his preference for Ahmad Patel as the CM of Gujarat. As an ex-PM, Manmohan Singh is very well aware of the protocols surrounding meetings with foreign dignitaries, which all political parties follow unfailingly. Manishankar’s sentiments about Pakistan are no secret anyway. Did Manmohan ever consult Manishankar on the Pakistan policy during his tenure? In fact, there is coterie in India afflicted by a “Stockholm Syndrome” that includes people like Manishankar Aiyar, Manmohan Singh, Late I.K. Gujaral & Kuldeep Nayyar, etc. The afflicted show symptoms of sympathy for the tormentors of their kinsmen. During his tenure, Gujaral damaged our intelligence apparatus so much that decades won’t be enough to repair it.
This was not the first questionable conduct of Manmohan Singh. Soon after taking PM’s office. Musharraf had paid a visit in April 2005 and the two sides disagreed on a joint statement. This related to the historic summit of 6th January 2004. The then PM Vajpayee had compelled the Pakistanis to agree that they would not let their land be used for anti-India activities. However Vajpayee was not satisfied. He also insisted on inclusion of a clause that Pakistan would not allow even territory controlled by it (read PoK) to be used for any terror activity against India. The principal secy Brajesh Mishra informed Vajpayee that Musharraf was cold to this inclusion. Vajpayee replied that he would prefer to return to his plane without a joint statement. It was clear that no joint statement could be issued without this inclusion. Mishra parleyed again and Musharraf had to agree. In 2005, Pakistanis wanted this clause out of the agreement. The Indian interlocutors were adamant but when this matter went to Manmohan he agreed to expunge this statement.
Manmohan’s second betrayal to Pakistan was in July 2006. During the NAM summit in Havana, Manmohan pleaded the case of Pakistan arguing that it too suffers from terrorism just like India. He went so far as to say that terror in India was not organised by ISI, but by a few freelance jihadis. He said this at a time when even American foreign affairs experts had admitted that terror in Kashmir was not run by such freelance jihadis.
A much more serious concession by Manmohan was in July 2009, Sharm-al-shiekh, Egypt. This was after November 2008 Mumbai attacks. The morning after the first day of the attacks, Manmohan was briefed by an intelligence officer. Manmohan was totally flabbergasted by the events. A high ranking official had to remind Manmohan that this was an “Enemy Act”. When Manmohan reached Sharm-al-Sheikh a few months after the attacks, he declared in a joint statement with Pakistan that India would play no mischief in Balochistan just as there would be no mischief by Pakistan in Kashmir. He more or less speaking on behalf of Pakistan once again. The statement directly implied than India was fomenting trouble in Balochistan.
It should also be noted that Manmohan once called Pakistani PM Gilani ‘a messenger of peace’.
One mistake can be forgiven, even a second. However when it recurs a third time, intentions are bound to be questioned. As far as disrespecting Manmohan goes, it is a truism that he who is not respected in his own house can scarcely expect respect outside. Ten years of UPA administration is witness to dozens of cases when his own party-men paid little heed to him. Leaving no stone unturned, Rahul Gandhi publicly tore up his ordinance. No self-respecting person would tolerate all this.
Rajiv Gandhi had attempted to heap the same humiliation upon Chandasekhar, when congressmen walked out of the house in the middle of Chandrasekhar’s reply to President’s opening speech to the parliament. Seeing tough posture of Chandrasekhar, Rajiv then sent a chit that he was ready to return to the house. However an incensed Chandrasekhar threw up the chit and announced his resignation then and there.
We cannot expect that someone who is subservient for his post as PM would show guts. So when questions are asked about Manmohan meeting Paki officials at Aiyar’s, it is not baseless. At the very least his timing is certainly questionable.
Courtesy: www.jagran.com
