NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday described the former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao as a "sanyasi" in politics. Terming the former Congress leader who led the country between 1992 and 1996 as his "friend, philosopher and guide in many ways," Dr. Singh said Narasimha Rao "was a moderniser who was steeped in our tradition and ethos."

Dr. Singh's observations came nearly 10 days after Rahul Gandhi, Congress Lok Sabha member from Amethi, indirectly criticised the Rao regime for having failed to protect the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in December 1992. He said the mosque would not have been demolished had there been a Prime Minister from the Gandhi-Nehru family.

In sharp contrast to the MP's remarks during his recent roadshow in Western Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Singh, who was Finance Minister in the Rao Government, paid glowing tributes to the memory of the former Prime Minister.

Awards presented

He was speaking after inaugurating the national conference on "Human Values, Spirituality, Integration and Peace," organised by Sarvaarth Sankshema Samithi whose chairman is P.V. Manohar Rao, brother of Narasimha Rao. Dr. Singh presented the P.V.Memorial Lifetime Achievement Gold Medals to senior Congress leader Karan Singh, former Election Commissioner G.V.G. Krishna Murthy and Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande.

Dr. Singh said: "I will always cherish the unique opportunity I had to work with him. He was a friend, philosopher and guide in many ways. As I saw him from close quarters, he was truly a sanyasi in politics. He was a moderniser who was steeped in our tradition and ethos. He was a rare scholar, statesman who gave a new sense of direction not only to our economic but also foreign policies. His command over several languages was not just a linguistic capability. It made him truly a pan-Indian personality equally at ease in Karimnagar, Pune, Benaras and Delhi."

Inherent pluralism

The inherent pluralism of "our psyche is what reinforces our unity despite our diversity." It was on the foundations of such pluralism and liberalism that a more peaceful and harmonised world could be built.

Dr. Singh said the cause of peace and integration was best served by dialogue. "Power in a civilised world does not and need not flow from the barrel of a gun, it must flow from our ability to talk and to hear and to understand other person's point of view. Such are the human values of our ancient culture and civilisation have taught us to uphold."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail