M A I N   N E W S

Sonia source of strength, says PM
Anita Katyal
Tribune News Service

London, September 20
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh might have sparked off a controversy back home by choosing to grant an interview to the RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya. But there should be no complaints about his two-page interview to the London daily, The Times, which appeared here today to coincide with his luncheon meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Dr Singh used the opportunity to put the record straight about the oft-repeated charge of two power-centres. Rejecting the suggestion that Congress President Sonia Gandhi was the power behind the throne, Dr. Singh pointed out that they had separate responsibilities and enjoyed a harmonious relationship.

“I have every reason to believe that the relationship that I enjoy with Mrs. Gandhi strengthens me in discharging my responsibilities as Prime Minister,” he told The Times.

He also made it clear that though seen as an accidental Prime Minister , his government would last its full term. “I have no doubt that the government is here to stay. It will complete five years” he added.

For the rest, he was ruled out sending troops to Iraq and spoke of India’s sincerity in resolving differences with Pakistan.

Relaxed flight

While the Prime Minister began his day in London with a meeting with top-level British CEOs, he had a quiet and relaxed time on his nine-hour flight to the United Kingdom.

He had a brief chat with the accompanying media team, leafed through the mandatory official files and , for the most part, read Strobe Talbott’s book, “Engaging India” which provides an insider’s view on the transformation of Indo-US relations following the Pokhran nuclear tests.

With Dr Manmohan Singh slated to have a breakfast meeting with US President George Bush on Monday, the book probably served as good background material for this interaction. External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh chose to read P.N. Haksar’s memorial volumes while Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s choice was P.C. Alexander’s controversial new book ‘Corridors of Power: An Insider’s View’, which gives a ringside view of political events during the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi years.

Familiar beat

This might be Dr Manmohan Singh’s first trip to the West as Prime Minister but it is a familiar beat for him, having made countless trips to the United Kingdom and the United States in his earlier avatar as Finance Minister.

He recalled how there is a sea change in conditions since those troubled days when the Indian economy was in shambles.

At that time, he said, they faced the national humiliation of pledging the country’s gold to raise a loan of 500 million dollars. “ Today, India was among the fastest growing economies,” he observed.

‘Main Hoon Na’

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s choice of flight-time reading was interesting enough, Bollywood film ‘Main Hoon Na’, screened on the special Air-India flight to London, also appeared to have been chosen with care.

Unlike other Bollywood blockbusters which revel in Pakistan-bashing, the story-line of the Shah Rukh Khan focuses on forging friendly ties between India and Pakistan and even has a government plan on exchange of prisoners between the two estranged neighbours, titled ‘Project Milaap’.

With Dr Singh scheduled to meet Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the margins of the UNGA session in New York this week, the choice of the politically correct film kept everybody wondering if this was a coincidence or was it meant to convey a message.

Dr Singh became sentimental recalling his student days in London when stood before 10 Downing Street and marvelled at the British Prime Minister’s residence.