Mr. Manmohan Singh’s announcement that he would not seek his re-election to the post of Prime Minister draws the curtain on his decade long innings. Whatever might have been the inadequacies of his stewardship, he was out and out a gentleman – sober, suave and sagacious. He had to preside over two coalition governments with their pulls and pressures and chart out the way ahead. In spite of the global economic meltdown, which had its repercussions on India also, he achieved over 7 per cent average growth rate during the last 10 years.
One would but agree with him that back-breaking inflation we have been facing is more due to international price rise than the weakness of our internal policies. Yet it was his responsibility to keep inflation under control and his party would certainly be held responsible for this in the next elections.
He seems to be correct in his estimation that history would be kinder to him than the contemporary media and brutally-opposed opposition. Let us say a heartfelt adieu to him, praying for his long and meaningful life and continuation of his wise guidance in future.
Battle lines are drawn for the next democratic exercise in this election year. Mr. Singh warned, in no unclear terms, that elevation of Mr. Narendra Modi to the post of Prime Minister would be disastrous for the country. It is strange that the main opposition party BJP, which could have projected some more acceptable person with better past performance, chose the worst person among their ranks for the most important post of the country. Now it is left to good sense and sagacity of the masses to elect the best and the most deserving person to this august post.
Leaders, however great, come and go, with their small or big contribution; but it is the country which survives and should continue its progress.
It is for the Congress and other UPA-2 constituents to join hands and present a viable alternative, by reading the pulse of the people and understanding their problems and devising good policies not only for their natural but also social, moral and human progress. If they fail in this then certainly the country would be facing narrow communal and fascist thinking which would hinder the overall progress and spell disaster for the country and may even endanger the very unity and integrity of the country.