My job is done if India-Pakistan ties normalize: Manmohan

[Rig Vedic]

Peace is good. But the journey will be long. Ultimately truth prevails but sometimes it takes a long time for wrong ideas to expose themselves.

 

[justanobserver]

Another IK Gujral in making it seems.

Punjabis should be barred from the post of PMship

Best would be a PM from the South ! Imagine if Chidambaram was PM. No emotional BS just plain pragmatism !

 

[KS]

Punjabis should be barred from the post of PMship

Best would be a PM from the South ! Image if Chidambaram was PM. No emotional BS just plain pragmatism !

Just plain Pragmatism !! That man is as cunning as cunning can get.

His community is famed for its business acumen in our place and he knows how to get a deal out of anything.

 

[LaBong]

Punjabis should be barred from the post of PMship

Best would be a PM from the South ! Image if Chidambaram was PM. No emotional BS just plain pragmatism !

Southies do deal with Pakistan more professionally than Northerners.

 

[hembo]

The one liner was apparently taken out of context by HT. MMS said it in response to a particular query on Indo-Pak relationship and does not mean what it was made to sound like. It is clear from the following article.

Besieged at home, a different PM abroad
Sarwar Kashani IANS
First Published : 17 Apr 2011 07:12:48 PM ISTLast Updated : 17 Apr 2011 07:15:29 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Manmohan Singh may be disparaged at home as weak by opposition parties and civil society, but when the prime minister is abroad he is a different man - brimming with confidence and transforms into what Newsweek described as the "leader that other leaders love".

For the past few months the prime minister has been under bitter attack from critics who accuse him of silence over corruption scandals besieging his government.

But when he meets foreign leaders, Manmohan Singh wins praise for his innovative economic ideas as well as his modesty and honesty. When he speaks, they listen with rapt attention to the ideas of the economist considered as the mastermind of the economic reforms that set off India's economic boom.

That was evident at Sanya, in China, where he addressed the plenary of the 3rd BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit on Thursday.

"There was a pin drop silence. They listened to him with rapt attention when he was speaking on the rapid socio-economic transformation of the BRICS nations and those of the developing world," said an official who travelled with the prime minister on his five-day two-nation trip, including Kazakhstan.
The official who wished not to be named said the ideas the prime minister voices at any international fora are closely monitored, and that is why the leaders world over describe him as a "close friend and valued adviser".

Newsweek in its article on the 2010 world ranking of leaders placed Manmohan Singh at the top, and said the prime minister's "unassuming personal style really inspires awe among his fellow global luminaries".

The official told IANS that the reason world leaders look up to Manmohan Singh for ideas is because "he maintains his sincerity and humility" despite presiding over one billion people for so long.

"The Indian economy has done so well, he is a great administrator, and modest, reasonable and tolerant. This all scores for him," he said.

Returning Saturday from what he himself described as a "fruitful" foreign trip, Manmohan Singh while speaking to journalists onboard his special plane was all smiles - quite a rare sight - and countered every questions confidently with one liners.

"Well, I am not disturbed. I have always believed that if winter comes, can spring be far away," the prime minister said, when was asked if he felt disturbed by the criticism at home.

Muted laughter preceded his one liner when he was asked what would be the five things he would like to achieve in the relations with Pakistan -- one of his favoured priorities.

"Well, I think five is too much... if I can succeed in normalising relations between India and Pakistan, as they should prevail between two normal states, I would consider my job well done," he said.

 

[Mech]

The one liner was apparently taken out of context by HT. MMS said it in response to a particular query on Indo-Pak relationship and does not mean what it was made to sound like. It is clear from the following article.

Besieged at home, a different PM abroad
Sarwar Kashani IANS
First Published : 17 Apr 2011 07:12:48 PM ISTLast Updated : 17 Apr 2011 07:15:29 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Manmohan Singh may be disparaged at home as weak by opposition parties and civil society, but when the prime minister is abroad he is a different man - brimming with confidence and transforms into what Newsweek described as the "leader that other leaders love".

For the past few months the prime minister has been under bitter attack from critics who accuse him of silence over corruption scandals besieging his government.

But when he meets foreign leaders, Manmohan Singh wins praise for his innovative economic ideas as well as his modesty and honesty. When he speaks, they listen with rapt attention to the ideas of the economist considered as the mastermind of the economic reforms that set off India's economic boom.

That was evident at Sanya, in China, where he addressed the plenary of the 3rd BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit on Thursday.

"There was a pin drop silence. They listened to him with rapt attention when he was speaking on the rapid socio-economic transformation of the BRICS nations and those of the developing world," said an official who travelled with the prime minister on his five-day two-nation trip, including Kazakhstan.
The official who wished not to be named said the ideas the prime minister voices at any international fora are closely monitored, and that is why the leaders world over describe him as a "close friend and valued adviser".

Newsweek in its article on the 2010 world ranking of leaders placed Manmohan Singh at the top, and said the prime minister's "unassuming personal style really inspires awe among his fellow global luminaries".

The official told IANS that the reason world leaders look up to Manmohan Singh for ideas is because "he maintains his sincerity and humility" despite presiding over one billion people for so long.

"The Indian economy has done so well, he is a great administrator, and modest, reasonable and tolerant. This all scores for him," he said.

Returning Saturday from what he himself described as a "fruitful" foreign trip, Manmohan Singh while speaking to journalists onboard his special plane was all smiles - quite a rare sight - and countered every questions confidently with one liners.

"Well, I am not disturbed. I have always believed that if winter comes, can spring be far away," the prime minister said, when was asked if he felt disturbed by the criticism at home.

Muted laughter preceded his one liner when he was asked what would be the five things he would like to achieve in the relations with Pakistan -- one of his favoured priorities.

"Well, I think five is too much... if I can succeed in normalising relations between India and Pakistan, as they should prevail between two normal states, I would consider my job well done," he said.

I dont care what the haters say, but this man, is a hero , a visionary and a role model in my book.

Jai hind !

 

[hembo]

@MMS Did you asked Madam ji before saying those Line's...

You are right. MMS should quit and we should have the wide range of choices for PM. Like we had in the past in Chandrashekhars, VP Singhs or for future like.. err.. Why does only one name comes to my mind...

Let us be little pragmatic here. Let us consider the possible future situations.

Situation 1: BJP and its allies comes back to center. Who will be the prime-ministerial candidate? Advaniji? Modi? If they elect Modi, it will be better, I think as he has experience in leading Gujrat into prosperity, albeit his smart bureaucrats. But Advaniji was never an inspirational figure like Bajpayee. But 1st question is how much is the probability of BJP+ Allies coming to power.

Situation 2: UPA led by Congress comes back to power. MMS is no more the PM. Who will it be? Well, like it or not, there is only one name. I hate congress for their dynasty politics.

The corruption of minister's were always there. But it is coming to public glare more and more these days because of implementation of RTI act. Even straight forward politician like George Fernandez was not free from his share of corruption controversies (courtesy Jaya Jetley). One cannot make sure all of the ministers will be corruption free.

It is good that, we are now more and more aware of these corrupt politicians. But we cannot go on blaming MMS for his inept subordinates. He had sacked the ministers, instigated investigation against all the corruption exposed. What else should he do? Resign on moral ground (and pave way for Rahul to rule us in their dynastic rule)? Has he taken a single paisa from all the corruption cases?

I for one am not a fan of Congress (Because their dynastic politics, the massive damage they have done to state while allowing illegal immogrants for vote bank politics etc etc., mind the two etc.), But I'm a huge fan of MMS and I give him (and Narasimha Rao to certain extent) full credit for what India has achieved in last twenty years and will continue to achieve for many decades. Anyone with experience will politics will admit that MMS, even though he was never a politician but and economist to the core, has done a fine balancing act with all the jokers around him. Even Shusma Swaraj will admit the same (even though her party spokesman will shout hai hai MMS, coz that's his job).

I think we're not balancing our view on MMS and looking with a closed view.

Disclaimer: It's just my view and should in no way be considered as politically motivated. Because I hate Congress and have never vote for them in Assam elections.

 

[Bhim]

Southies do deal with Pakistan more professionally than Northerners.

Who had to bear all the wars and partition? Even my family lost some of the members.
The southern people jut sat cosy..

 

[Bhim]

Even today if war breaks out, we will not fear, but I can't say about south Indians how much guts they have.

If you want to rule then learn to use the gun also..

 

[Sayonara]

It is normal now! Just like it has been for the last 64 years.What he is trying to do is abnormal.

yes it is normal you dont deserve better than that

 

[shuntmaster]

Oh $hit. This time we a are royally screwed. If a PM of 1.21 billion people, suffering from government inefficiency, apathy, indifference, favouritism, nepotism, corruption, etc. (I have to put an etc. here or else PDF will run out of server space), thinks 'normalization' of relation with Pakistan is his 'job well done', then there must be something wrong with our democracy.

We are reading too much into this. MMS was answering to a specific question from journalists about Indo-Pak relationship.

Asked by journalists on board Air India One on his way back from Kazakhstan about five things he would like to achieve in relations with Pakistan, Singh, said, "Five would be too much. Well, if I can succeed in normalizing relations between India and Pakistan, as they should prevail between two normal states, I will consider my job well done.''

This shows how deteriorated is the Indo-pak relationship and how difficult its to normalise it. MMS is a shrewd guy. He is indirectly telling not to expect much from the 'peace talk' & 'back channel & cricket diplomacy'. He has still 3 more years in the current government tenure. If normalcy is what he can expect at the best, then we have a very long way to go for any meaningful solutions to the issues between the 2 countries.

 

[Varad]

Even today if war breaks out, we will not fear, but I can't say about south Indians how much guts they have.

If you want to rule then learn to use the gun also..

There is no South Indian or North Indian. They are all just INDIANS.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Even today if war breaks out, we will not fear, but I can't say about south Indians how much guts they have.

What, do you think that South Indians have less guts?

 

[Sayonara]

Southies do deal with Pakistan more professionally than Northerners.

i think pakistan deals with india, with all the whining and stuff, not other wise

 

[trystwithdestiny]

It’s difficult to perceive what MMS intends to achieve considering the past, present and what the future beholds for both the countries. In his remarkable career this humble and soft spoken arduous economist had paved the way for the economic growth of this billion strong country, thus laying the foundation for taking this country into 21st century where we can start believing in prospects of a better standard of life than what prevailed in 1991.
That being said, it’s pertinent to mention that during his stint at 7 Race Course road he has stabilized the political uncertainty and economic volatility such that it could withstand a global recession. Now, at the verge of his political career coming to glorified finish, he wants to resolve the animosity between India and Pakistan. Mr.Singh would’ve understood the possible reaction from the House of Parliament and the implications involved in dealing with Pakistan before making such a statement. But what baffles my sheer logic is, to what ends would he be successful in normalizing the relations between both the countries which are basically snubbed at the thought of each other as they are driven more by populous opinion rather than consensual global opinion, as both the countries have democratic governance and have to go to polls every five years.

It’s imperative that in order to the get relation’s normalize between both the countries, the following will have be addressed first.
Indian Agenda
1)Complete shutdown of Terror outfits and non state actors which may emanate from across the border.
2)To bring the perpetrators who conspired the act of Mumbai to appropriate justice.

Pakistan’s Agenda:
1)Resolving Kashmir Issue.
2)To halt the construction on Dam’s on river’s which flow across both the borders.

We can further add up the probable points of discussion which might come up. But to be true to ourselves, are we and when I say we, people from Pakistan and India are willing to let the so called politicians decide on the above issues. I have no idea about pakistan but I am absolutely certain that Mr.Singh would have a tedious task in order to achieve what he currently perceives as a possibility. I am also sure that my country men’s perception on this statement would spur a nationwide debate, if he puts his words into action. I am an optimist even in the face of adversity but even to me, the very notion of India and Paksitan able to normalize its political and regional difference sounds NEVER. If this humble literary giant can achieve what he perceives is possible, then it would be an magnanimous achievement which a human being might achieve after the likes of Gandhi’s and Mandela’s.