Adieu to the first PM from NE
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Free Thinker
Since Independence Dr Manmohan Singh was the first Prime Minister from North East India. His departure at the age of 92 is a great loss to the Nation particularly to the North East. Though he was in Rajya Sabha from Assam, he looked after the seven sisters and one little brother with grace and great care.
Though Dr Manmohan Singh was from Pakistan he loved India more than anything else. He was born on 26 September 1932 in Gah, Punjab, (now in Pakistan) during the British Raj. He got married in 1958 and had three wonderful daughters – none of them are in politics. Perhaps Manmohan ji did not believe in dynastic politics.
Foreign press flashed (before domestic media did ) “Manmohan Singh , an Indian politician, economist, academic and bureaucrat who served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 just passed away in New Delhi”.
Even for Mrs Gandhi too the foreign media gave the news first. In her case the BBC had already declared the demise of Mrs Gandhi hours before AIR did.
There might be reasons for delays in such an announcement in case of incumbent Prime Ministers. But for former PMs I don’t understand the reason for the late declaration of death.
As soon as Dr Manmohan Singh departed the Congress-karmis issued a long list of what he had done for Manipur. In those ten years of Sardarji’s regime there were double engine in Delhi and Manipur. Those days great leaders like Ibobi Singh and Biren Singh were running the State Government. Credit must also go to them for the good deeds.
The Kangla key was handed over – yes, we agree, but all the arrangements were made by the then Home Ministry. RIMs was upgraded by the Union Health Ministry, of course with the approval of the Union Cabinet.
Singh Saab removed AFSPA from peaceful areas of the State. He built Ema Keithel and adjoining Flyover. Dr Saab converted Manipur University to Central University. He constructed Thoubal- Multi- purpose-Project, the Capital project, New Assembly, High Court Building. Separate High Court was given for the State.
He constructed Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, sanctioned Loktak Downstream project and Khuga Multipurpose Dam. He upgraded the Imphal Airport to an International one. Mr Singh upgraded the INA complex, Kangla Fort, JNIMS etc. He set up the Indira Gandhi Tribal University (Manipur Branch). District Secretariats and hospitals were also constructed.
If Sardar ji had done all these things, what did Ibobi Singh and his Government do between 2004 and 2014 ?
There was a man called Patel from Gujarat. He was quite powerful because of his proximity with the Gandhis. If I remember correctly he was the political advisor to Sonia ji who refused to become PM (because Sushma ji threatened that–she will tonsure her own head if she becomes the PM). Then bale bale for Sardar ji.
Sardar Manmohan Singh was a good man, a great economist, silent worker and lucky Prime Minister. His responsibilities were shared by personalities like Patel and Pranab. Once I read somewhere Pranab Mukherji headed as many as 52 Cabinet Committees on various affairs and issues. All the trouble shooting was done by Pranab da. The Government was practically run by dada. At the political level Ahmed Bhai was doing the needful.
Manmohan Singh’s Government successfully continued the dialogue with the Nagas. Then it was clinched in August, 2015 when the NDA Government came to power. The Famous August Framework Agreement is still on the anvil.
During Sardarji’s time the negotiation with the Kuki-Zo brothers had also begun; many factions were brought to the negotiating table . Ibobi Saab was the CM then. Credit goes to both the State and Central Government. These groups are still on the payroll of the Government. Talks are still going on. Simultaneously Naga negotiation is also on peacefully. One fine day solution will find us.
Now Bhalla Saab has arrived, he will tell us how to go about it. He has a very powerful experience in North-Block and his experience will help us in finding an amicable solution in the State. The dialogue with the Nagas , Kukis and now Meiteis shall continue.
Personally, Singh Saab is very boring – he only reads, writes and speaks to the point – he does not drink, eat, indulge, have no girlfriend and not even gossip. That does not mean that I don’t respect him, I do respect him to the core of my heart because he was the most educated Prime Minister the country has ever produced.
Advani ji once called him ‘the weakest PM’ - I don’t agree. Because there was someone who became PM twice (in 1964 and again in 1966) – he had no time to perform. Again Modi ji said seriously in a lighter vein that “Dr Saab knows how to take bath under the shower and not a single drop of water touches him” – I believe it is rather a compliment on his incorruptible self – though he knew who the thieves were.
Sardar ji had only one love affair with Gursharan Kaur ! What a PM.
Since Independence Dr Manmohan Singh was the first Prime Minister from North East India. His departure at the age of 92 is a great loss to the Nation particularly to the North East. Though he was in Rajya Sabha from Assam, he looked after the seven sisters and one little brother with grace and great care.
Though Dr Manmohan Singh was from Pakistan he loved India more than anything else. He was born on 26 September 1932 in Gah, Punjab, (now in Pakistan) during the British Raj. He got married in 1958 and had three wonderful daughters – none of them are in politics. Perhaps Manmohan ji did not believe in dynastic politics.
Foreign press flashed (before domestic media did ) “Manmohan Singh , an Indian politician, economist, academic and bureaucrat who served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 just passed away in New Delhi”.
Even for Mrs Gandhi too the foreign media gave the news first. In her case the BBC had already declared the demise of Mrs Gandhi hours before AIR did.
There might be reasons for delays in such an announcement in case of incumbent Prime Ministers. But for former PMs I don’t understand the reason for the late declaration of death.
As soon as Dr Manmohan Singh departed the Congress-karmis issued a long list of what he had done for Manipur. In those ten years of Sardarji’s regime there were double engine in Delhi and Manipur. Those days great leaders like Ibobi Singh and Biren Singh were running the State Government. Credit must also go to them for the good deeds.
The Kangla key was handed over – yes, we agree, but all the arrangements were made by the then Home Ministry. RIMs was upgraded by the Union Health Ministry, of course with the approval of the Union Cabinet.
Singh Saab removed AFSPA from peaceful areas of the State. He built Ema Keithel and adjoining Flyover. Dr Saab converted Manipur University to Central University. He constructed Thoubal- Multi- purpose-Project, the Capital project, New Assembly, High Court Building. Separate High Court was given for the State.
He constructed Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, sanctioned Loktak Downstream project and Khuga Multipurpose Dam. He upgraded the Imphal Airport to an International one. Mr Singh upgraded the INA complex, Kangla Fort, JNIMS etc. He set up the Indira Gandhi Tribal University (Manipur Branch). District Secretariats and hospitals were also constructed.
If Sardar ji had done all these things, what did Ibobi Singh and his Government do between 2004 and 2014 ?
There was a man called Patel from Gujarat. He was quite powerful because of his proximity with the Gandhis. If I remember correctly he was the political advisor to Sonia ji who refused to become PM (because Sushma ji threatened that–she will tonsure her own head if she becomes the PM). Then bale bale for Sardar ji.
Sardar Manmohan Singh was a good man, a great economist, silent worker and lucky Prime Minister. His responsibilities were shared by personalities like Patel and Pranab. Once I read somewhere Pranab Mukherji headed as many as 52 Cabinet Committees on various affairs and issues. All the trouble shooting was done by Pranab da. The Government was practically run by dada. At the political level Ahmed Bhai was doing the needful.
Manmohan Singh’s Government successfully continued the dialogue with the Nagas. Then it was clinched in August, 2015 when the NDA Government came to power. The Famous August Framework Agreement is still on the anvil.
During Sardarji’s time the negotiation with the Kuki-Zo brothers had also begun; many factions were brought to the negotiating table . Ibobi Saab was the CM then. Credit goes to both the State and Central Government. These groups are still on the payroll of the Government. Talks are still going on. Simultaneously Naga negotiation is also on peacefully. One fine day solution will find us.
Now Bhalla Saab has arrived, he will tell us how to go about it. He has a very powerful experience in North-Block and his experience will help us in finding an amicable solution in the State. The dialogue with the Nagas , Kukis and now Meiteis shall continue.
Personally, Singh Saab is very boring – he only reads, writes and speaks to the point – he does not drink, eat, indulge, have no girlfriend and not even gossip. That does not mean that I don’t respect him, I do respect him to the core of my heart because he was the most educated Prime Minister the country has ever produced.
Advani ji once called him ‘the weakest PM’ - I don’t agree. Because there was someone who became PM twice (in 1964 and again in 1966) – he had no time to perform. Again Modi ji said seriously in a lighter vein that “Dr Saab knows how to take bath under the shower and not a single drop of water touches him” – I believe it is rather a compliment on his incorruptible self – though he knew who the thieves were.
Sardar ji had only one love affair with Gursharan Kaur ! What a PM.