The making of a Politician
Manmohan Singh - The name is almost synonymous with the liberalization of Indian State in 1991. Dr. Manmohan Singh, who was then the Finance Minister of India, was the key in starting breakthrough reforms in India, who other wise was following the socialists policies largely since Independence in 1947. The policies were tended towards protectionism, large public sector, state interference in business, labour and financial markets, etc. These were largely influenced by colonial rule and many believed were exploitive in nature.
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Dr. Manmohan Singh has a very distinguished career and is always regarded as one of few economists of world stature. After completing his Bachelors and Masters degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, he studied economics at Cambridge in St Johns College. His major appointments include as deputy chairman of Planning Commission of India (1985-1987), Governor of RBI (1982-1985), Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva (1987-1990). Dr. Singh is largely regarded as a leader with clean image with no taint throughout his career running though many administrations.
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Dr. Manmohan Singh has a very distinguished career and is always regarded as one of few economists of world stature. After completing his Bachelors and Masters degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, he studied economics at Cambridge in St Johns College. His major appointments include as deputy chairman of Planning Commission of India (1985-1987), Governor of RBI (1982-1985), Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva (1987-1990). Dr. Singh is largely regarded as a leader with clean image with no taint throughout his career running though many administrations.
During he 1990-91 economic crisis, Singh, who had been thus far the most influential architects of India’s socialist economy, reluctantly and slowly opened up the Indian economy to FDI and business competition. The Balance of Payment crisis in 1991 pushed the Indian Govt to near bankruptcy. Many would recall the gold sell-off to IMF and the subsequent reforms India was forced to embrace. Dr. Singh, who was then the Finance Minister of Indian Republic, transformed the economy through badly needed reforms to unshackle the economy. The opening of markets and liberalization saw India opening up for International trade and investment, deregulation, partially doing away with Inspector/Licence Raj, privatization, etc. Much of the middle class remembers that era when the salaries shot up, at some instances almost 10 times for many of the private jobs holders.
In 1993, Singh offered his resignation from the post of Finance Minister after a parliamentary investigation report criticised his ministry for not being able to anticipate a USD$1.8 billion securities scandal. Prime Minister Rao refused Singh's resignation, instead promising to punish the individuals directly accused in the report. The report would be dusting somewhere as no visible action was taken ever. However, it enforced some confidence in the general public on the man who took the moral responsibility in the country wherein politicians are known to blatantly denying on opposition propaganda even when caught red handed for some offence.
Dr. Singh took over as the Prime Minister of Indian Republic for the 14th Lok Sabha in May, 2004. He has been instrumental in cementing ties with many world leaders and enjoys excellent relationship with some of the most powerful political world figures, biggest achievement being the nuclear civil energy deal for India, largely known as 123 deal.
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However, Singh has always been considered as a weak Prime Minister, a one who takes orders from 6, race course. He has always been considered as the one who would not take decisions independently. During the first five years tenure of Dr. Singh as Prime Minister, the Govt. largely put the failures on the compulsion of having ‘Left’ as an alliance partner, who would not let them take decisions of global importance and growth. The Indian people voted Congress back only face of Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2009 whom they see as a hope to curb widespread corruption, red tapism, quick action on subject of national importance e.g. inflation, etc. However, today, the common man feels cheated and disgruntled as lacklustre attitude of Dr. Singh has left many of us astonished. The scams of like Telecom Spectrum allocation to dubious companies wherein he was well aware of the facts and deeds of Minister A. Raja but chose to kept quiet over the alliance compulsion of DMK; the laidback attitude in CWG scam wherein crores of taxpayers money were paid in bribes or stowed away by the office bearers and good for nothing action like a eye wash raid by CBI on likes of Kalamadi or the in-different attitude in Adarsh scam wherein no major action against any politician was taken other than moving a CM (The ex-CM of Maharashtra who was at helm of affairs during this period was recently made Union Cabinet Minister). These are just few but important incidents which would definitely shatter the trust and hope of common man on the Govt. (read Congress party) in general and Dr. Singh in particular. People are feeling more dejected after hearing the famous ‘radiagate’ tapes which actually shows the nexus of politicians, corporates and journalists. No action is taken here also on anyone.
So is it fair to say that Dr. Manmohan Singh whom the nation of one billion entrusted to draw a change to their lives, largely failed? Is it fair to say that the agenda of curbing corruption, red tape, nepotism, a true Lokpal/Lokayukta Bill, which the nation entrusted to Dr. Singh to at least kick start the process failed to take off? Or putting it more simply, Is Dr. Manmohan Singh a politician now?
Only time and history would judge that.
