New Delhi: The scholarly and soft-spoken former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, was often attacked for being a weak Prime Minister with Sonia Gandhi believed to have wield power behind the throne during his term in the office. But what did Singh—who became synonymous with the 1991 economic reforms in the country while serving as the Finance Minister then—perceive about the allegations of being unable to control his ministers? Well, he gave his response— that is still all over the social media—while addressing his last press conference on January 3, 2014.
“I honestly believe history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament,” he had replied.
“….The BJP and its associates may say whatever they like. But if by strong Prime Minister you mean that you preside over the mass massacre of innocent citizens on the streets of Ahmedabad…I don’t think the country needs that sort of strength…” he added.
“I cannot divulge all the things that take place in the cabinet system of government. I think taking into account the circumstances and the compulsions of a coalition polity, I have done as best as I could do under the circumstances,” he had added.
In what became an Indian PM’s last big, unscripted press conference, I asked Manmohan Singh a question that became the next day’s big headline. Do see his poise, calmness & willingness to answer uncomfortable questions. RIP, sir. You were a cut above the rest & will be missed. pic.twitter.com/hsNxBvqHI5
— Maneesh Chhibber (@maneeshchhibber) December 27, 2024
During that period, the UPA-II government was reeling under allegations of corruption in several of its ministries. It turned out to be a key reason behind the Congress’s rout in the 2014 general election. But, Singh had ‘nothing to be ashamed’ of his prime ministership and that’s what he had told in an interview last year.
Throwback to when PM Dr. #ManmohanSingh held a press conference, answering 62 questions from 100+ journalists
May the heavens take care of you sir 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/pR8qMwwP9h
— Rohini Anand (@mrs_roh08) December 27, 2024
‘BMW worth crores belongs to the PM, my car is the Maruti’
Singh passed away on Thursday after having retired from active politics earlier this year. He was a Rajya Sabha MP for 33 years. He may be no more but his life and words continue to linger in the memories of many who watched him closely. In one such instance, former Indian Police Service officer Arun Asim, who once served as the chief Special Protection Group (SPG) deployed during Singh’s prime ministerial tenure, remembered the veteran leader’s inclination towards his Maruti 800.
Now an MLA from Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj Sadar, Asim highlighted the simple lifestyle Singh maintained over the years. The UP MLA, in an interview to NDTV, said Singh had only one car of his own, a Maruti 800. It used to be parked behind the shiny, black BMW parked at the prime ministerial residence. He would repeatedly tell me, ‘this is my car’,” he recalled, as reported by NDTV. “The car worth crores belongs to the PM, my car is this Maruti,” Singh once told Asim.
