試す - 無料

Prime Minister, Great Economist, A Greater Ethicist

Hindustan Times Noida

|

December 28, 2024

Manmohan Singh showed that honesty could be at home in politics, and politics in honesty

- Gopalkrishna Gandhi

An outgoing diplomat is of little or no importance to a Leader of the Opposition (LoP). But when, in the July of 2000, just before moving to Colombo, I sought to call on the then LoP in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh, I was surprised to get a date at once. As I entered Dr Singh's modest Room 43 in the old Parliament House, I saw there was no one fussing over him, no one hinting to me that I should do this or not do that. The leader rose warmly from his seat and showing me to a chair, congratulated me on my appointment and asked: "So, Gopal, what would you advise the Congress to do or say?" I was aware that I was going as a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appointee, identified for the post by Prime Minister (PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and here was an Opposition stalwart asking me to advise him on Sri Lanka.

Politics need not always politick, nor diplomacy speak in whispers. I said what I thought was the right course, namely that the rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka should not be conflated with the demands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and that India must press for a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Tamil people with the sovereignty of Sri Lanka staying intact. By the time we finished, I had spent 45 minutes with one who I would never have imagined would be PM of India, four years from that day. He had asked me the most incisive questions, made me think through crucial aspects of India-Sri Lanka ties. I was moved when, as I left, he said, "Gopal, you go with my blessings."

Hindustan Times Noida からのその他のストーリー

Hindustan Times Noida

Hindustan Times Noida

Jadeja spins India’s crushing win vs WI

India bundled out ‘West Indies twice in 89.2 overs, dismissing the visitors for 146 in the second innings on Saturday, ‘making their innings and 140-run win that was completed in a little over two-and-a-half days one of their most one-sided Test wins.

time to read

2 mins

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

Suit in US challenges H-1B fee hike

A coalition of workers unions, nonprofit organisations and religious groups launched the first legal challenge against President Donald Trump's H-1B visa fee hike, arguing the president lacks authority to unilaterally alter the terms of an immigration programme created by Congress.

time to read

1 mins

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

Vidarbha tighten grip vs Rest of India

Vidarbha stayed firmly in control of the Irani Cup, setting Rest of India a stiff 361-run target before reducing them to 30/2 when rain forced an early close on the fourth day here on Saturday.

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

Zubeen Garg was poisoned in Singapore: Arrested bandmate claims

The death case of Zubeen Garg has taken a drastic turn with his arrested bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami alleging that the singer was \"poisoned\" and did not die of drowning as believed earlier.

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

Innovation and immersive art take centre stage in the Capital

Art lovers gathered for the 8th International Biennale of Non-Objective Arts that offered Delhiites a rare glimpse into the future of visual culture.

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

WEDDING BELLS! RASHMIKA, VIJAY ARE ENGAGED, WILL TIE THE KNOT NEXT YEAR

After years of speculation around their relationship, actors Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda are finally engaged. Vijay's team confirmed the development to us on Saturday, hours after rumours of the engagement emerged online.

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

It was fun but too easy, writes Hrithik on War 2

After months of silence on the underwhelming box office showing of War 2, Hrithik Roshan has finally spoken up.

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

Hindustan Times Noida

Gill appointed ODI captain; Rohit, Kohli part of squad

Test skipper Shubman Gill was named India’s one-day international (ODI) captain on Saturday ahead of the upcoming series against Australia, ending Rohit Sharma’s four-year tenure at the helm and signalling the beginning of a new phase in India’s limited-overs setup.

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

Missile, shell production opened to private sector

THE REVENUE PROCUREMENT MANUAL HAS BEEN AMENDED TO SCRAP NEED FOR PRIVATE PLAYERS TO GET NOC FROM MUNITIONS INDIA LIMITED

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida

INDIAN STUDENT FROM HYD SHOT DEAD IN TEXAS

A 28-year-old student from Hyderabad was shot dead on Friday night at a gas station where he was working part-time in Denton, Texas, his family members said on Saturday.

time to read

1 min

October 05, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size