Former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, had some bipolar day Wednesday. He started slapping his successor, saying that PM Modi was the reason why “the very idea of India was was under attack.” But night comes, I was enjoying the conversation and general bonhomie 7 Race Course Road.
The visit took most observers by surprise, including Singh’s own party. The moment seemed downright bizarre. So did the former prime minister knows that he would be enjoying the hospitality of Modi that night, as he was accusing his soon-to-be host of bad government? The strange juxtaposition of images photo-op with rare and unexpected public statements by Singh on his record had everyone insistently about the reasons for the meet and greet.
Singh’s office said: “At the invitation of PM Modi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with the Prime Minister today … discussed the economic situation in the country and issues of foreign policy.” Congress leader, Anand Sharma, confirmed it.
Singh Modi at the meeting at 7 RCR. PTI imageSingh with Modi at the meeting at 7 RCR. Image PTI
PTI also quoted anonymous sources dismissed the unexpected moment. They alleged that Modi had invited his predecessor day before to ask him to come to tea, but after the meeting did not materialize, was re-scheduled for Wednesday night instead.
However, the Prime Minister was peculiarly mother on the subject of who invited whom. “Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh asked the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today the official residence of Prime Minister 7 Race Course Road (RCR),” said the PMO website, while the PM himself Twitter “Very happy to Meet Dr. Manmohan Singh ji and welcome back to 7RCR. We had a great meeting.”
The Telegraph, however, offered this bit of inside information, although unsourced information that muddied the waters:
“Others spoke aside” sensitive “of Manmohan and suggested it must have been deeply hurt by insinuations 2G and wanted to clear things up with the Prime Minister. Some fell less charitable advice of an agreement …
Rarely found wanting in communication skills, unlike Manmohan and his PMO, the establishment Modi became tongue-tied. A PMO source said: “The instruction of the Prime Minister’s clear that must be planned as a courtesy and nothing more need be said.”
The source then suggested Manmohan had asked Modi time today. Asked by this newspaper again when Manmohan had sought the appointment, the source said, “today only”.
The aim was clear to paint the meeting as an effort by Singh to request the help of Modi in the fight against attacks on his legacy and his role in the 2G scandal.
A meeting between former and current prime minister is not in itself remarkable. The Telegraph ‘veterans’ appointments as saying that the prime minister can always call his predecessor to consult with him on how to deal with affairs of state, so it would be natural for Singh to comply with such a request the party rivalry aside . An Economic Times report, however, notes, “A rarity of this meeting is that former PMs rarely, if ever, ask their successors. In any case, it’s the opposite.”
ET also states that Singh, who requested a “talk-AM to PM”, but says that Sonia had been notified in advance of the meeting.
But while he may have been called to discuss foreign and economic policy, the ET report said the former prime minister also referred to the economic situation and told his successor to focus on governance and the future instead of the past. Singh tips to stick to the future is not surprising considering that Modi has launched an all out attack on the UPA government Singh in a speech in Mathura, blaming them for the economic problems of the country and said the economy country would have been much worse if they had continued in power.
In fact, the two leaders had spent the first half of the day criticizing other schemes. While Manmohan Singh Modi criticized the government and said he had never used his position to enrich himself or anyone else, Modi in an interview with news agency said that the unconstitutional powers’ had exercised power over the Prime Minister.
