Economist-turned-politician emerges leader in his own right

Tue, Jul 22 08:48 PM

New Delhi, July 22 (PTI) Victorious from the most severe challenge to his government in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has emerged a political leader in his own right acquiring the authority to go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal and probably give a push to economic reforms blocked by the Left parties. Self-effacing and given to keeping a low profile, the 75-year-old economist-turned-politician in his own way brought to the forefront the nuclear deal and even staked his government's future on an issue he considered very critical for India's future in terms of energy security.

It was a different Manmohan Singh last year, who appeared ready to sacrifice the deal at the altar of coalition politics in the face of stiff opposition from his former allies the Left parties. "There will be disappointment, but in life one has to always live with disappointments," he said in October when he was asked about the Left parties threat to withdraw support if he went ahead with the nuke deal.

"This is not not an one-issue government," he had maintained then. This was a couple of months after he had dared the Left parties saying if they want to witdraw support, "so be it".

PTI.

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