This is in reference to the recent controversy being stoked by the release of Sanjaya Baru's book The Accidental Prime Minister. The book seems to suggest that the Congress party president had extra-constitutional influence over the prime minister. The Prime Minister's Office is undeniably a political place. Hence, the functionaries associated with it are likely to be embedded in politics - including the prime minister. The problem with Manmohan Singh has been that he is not much of a politician. Thus, Sonia Gandhi willy-nilly carries the can of political worms and is bound to call policy shots. A prime minister's role does not begin and end with making file notings - his role is in implementing them as well. Singh's handicap has been the implementation part and his overt reliance on the political functionaries of the party to see his decisions through. The Congress and some members of the prime minister's family have called the release of the book unethical. Bringing in morality play to defend a political position and constitutional office is as inadequate as is invoking scriptures to defend Swami Aseemanand.
Indranil Chakraborty Mumbai
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