NEW DELHI: As he demits office later this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s “able stewardship” was hailed by Congress today which underlined that he had led the country through difficult times.
“Singh’s experienced and seasoned stewardship, his personal integrity and ability to lead the country through difficult times is noteworthy and India is proud to have earned so many laurels and respect during the ten years”, party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
He said that the party deeply appreciated the “able stewardship” of Singh during UPA-I and UPA-II “when we have carved out a trajectory and a path of clear inclusive growth, stability and social harmony in the country”.
Expressing gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister and his team, he wished him good health and happiness.
The AICC’s praise of the Prime Minister came on the eve of a farewell dinner for him hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, just two days before the announcement of results of Lok Sabha elections.
A memento is also expected to be presented to the Prime Minister signed by all members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and Union Ministers.
Singh, 81, would be demitting office on May 17. He had earlier this year announced his retirement.
Congress leaders had always spoken of the relationship between the Prime Minister and Gandhi as an ideal division of labor, which saw perfect harmonization between the government and the party.
AICC has always maintained that there cannot be any better relationship between a party president and a Prime Minister and had often dismissed as “rumors and disinformation” reports of differences between the two.
“I think at some point of time we must learn to be graceful, including the media”, Singhvi shot back when asked whether the Congress was trying to make the Prime Minister a “scapegoat”.
“I don’t know from where you are getting this great idea and adjectives when I have just put on record publicly before you a statement lauding, appreciating and expressing our heartfelt thanks,” he said.
Singhvi dismissed a query whether the farewell being given to the Prime Minister implied that Congress was not coming to power for the third time. He said that the farewell is meant for the present dispensation.
“You must know that farewells are meant to say good bye to the present dispensation, there is no contradiction that the next dispensation again will be UPA.
“Sometimes people speak the truth by default,” he remarked when asked about how BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Prakash Javadekar have said good things about the Prime Minister today.–PTI
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