‘I Am A Women’ Man’: From Reluctance To Relishing Press Meets — Manmohan Singh’s Evolution – News18
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Dr Manmohan Singh was astute, and his silence hid his consciousness about many issues
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh handed away on December 26 on the age of 92. (File picture/PTI)
“I hope you might be not indignant with me. I used to see you very indignant with my authorities and me.” This was at an Iftaar occasion hosted by Sonia Gandhi simply after the defeat of the UPA 2 within the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Dr Manmohan Singh was referring to the media questioning and assaults on him over a number of allegations of scams towards his authorities. He ended his remark with a smile. No rancour. No anger. And no bitterness. That is the reminiscence many journalists have about him because the nation mourns the lack of the previous Prime Minister.
Dr Manmohan Singh was astute, and his silence hid his consciousness about many issues. Not a confrontationist by nature, he, nevertheless, was recognized to show sporadic anger when ruffled or goaded. He was upset following a collection of leaks from cupboard conferences, and he requested his PMO employees to repair it. The choice was then taken that each one ministers who attended the conferences must go away their telephones out.
Those that know him stated this was shocking, contemplating he by no means bothered about such issues. However he was nervous that if delicate data went out, it may impression the inventory markets.
Not recognized to talk out of flip or be proactive, issues modified in direction of the top of his first time period. Those that watched him carefully stated he had begun to be comfy and revel in his second time period. The primary time we went on his flight overseas, he was reluctant to satisfy the press. He was coaxed by his media advisers to carry an onboard press convention. He would achieve this reluctantly. However by the point we met him on his second such journey, near 2012, he informed his employees to organise the press meet.
This was when the difficulty of the coal rip-off was heating up. And he determined to take these fees head-on. Actually, his media advisers have been shocked that he was sport. Later, at a press convention, he stated, “I’m neither shy nor silent. I communicate extra to the media than others do.”
The dig was evidently on the BJP. Nevertheless it was clear that he was conscious of each element concerning what was being stated about him.
A frugal eater, at instances, after we sat with him, he conceded that having a spoon of gajar ka halwa was high quality with him. He cherished listening to ghazals and shero-shayari. And so, countering the BJP and Sushma Swaraj via this route got here straightforward to him.
Behind his deadpan manner was an individual who heard each phrase stated about him. His occasional smiles and unflinching assist for his spouse confirmed his different facet. One in all his final phrases to a couple ladies journalists in Parliament was, “I’m a girls’ man…I’ve 4 ladies who body my life. My three daughters and spouse. I do know what you undergo every day.” With this, he smiled and walked off.
