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| Manmohan Singh is real tough guy | | UPA Govt reached its half way mark Nov. 22 | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, NOV. 22
'Mr Clean', who was two and a half years ago reluctant to become the Prime Minister of India, is now at ease with the job. Manmohan Singh had strong reasons to wear a genuine smile on Wednesday (November 22). The UPA government he is heading reached its half way mark--two and a half years in office--on Wednesday.
Soon after the two Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day before noon on Wednesday, several Congress leaders, MPs and Ministers felicitated him on sucessfully completing two and a half years in the office. The smiling Prime Minister warmly reciprocated the feelings of all those who congratulatred him on the occasion.
How has Manmohan Singh changed in this period? As he defended the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister was almost ballistic. "I have in my blood, the feelings of freedom fighter's family", he said. His opponents stared open-mouthed, clearly shocked. But the Prime Minister's friends and family were not. According to them, underneath the unassuming turban, he is a real tough guy.
Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was approached for his comments. Chavan's words ran thus: "He is mild mannered but is firm in his mind and decisions". So, how has the Prime Minister changed after two and a half years in office. Not much, say his pals.
One inside story: When his family went for a holiday to Goa, they did not even bother to invite him knowing he would not join them. And his private life is strictly private. In a party of dynasties, the house of Manmohan Singh is an honourable exception.
Yet another inside story: When Manmohan Singh's younger daughter got married last year, not even Sonia Gandhi was called. So, what does Manmohan Singh do when he is not being Prime Minister? Manmohan Singh is not particularly a party man and get-togethers at home include only his family.His favourite food is his wife Gursharan Kaur's cooking, which is simple dal chawal. An early riser, Manmohan Singh likes to take a morning walk.
Books are his favourite pastime and when he is not reading, he watches a little bit of television, especially news channels. In fact, his Cabinet Secretary was woken up early in the morning to be informed about the Tsunami by the Prime Minister who had seen the breaking news on CNN. Manmohan Singh, it is said, hates political rallies and making long campaign speeches.
But as Prime Minister, he has had to adjust to mass politics and the demands it imposes on his time. "What upsets him the most is people wasting his time," says media advisor to Prime Minister, Sanjay Baru. Is he still then a reluctant politician? Thirty months ago, few would have believed that Manmohan Singh would actually be comfortable as Prime Minister given his ostensible dislike for daily politics.
Today, India's most famous blue turban is more upright than ever before--a sign that our gentlest leader might just turn into one of our strongest political survivors. |
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