Everyone loves Manmohan: Cong, BJP rush to defend once reviled PM over Coalgate

The sensational summoning of former prime minister Manmohan Singh as an accused in the coal scam could well be yet another stumbling block for the BJP to overcome in Parliament, as it struggles to pass crucial legislation.

Special CBI judge Bharat Parashar said he was aware of the impact of his decision to summon the former Prime Minister – because of his approval of an allocation of a coal block to Hindalco – on “the morale of the country as a whole.” What is surprising, however, is that Parashar’s move has been greeted by less than enthusiasm even by the BJP.

The fact that the BJP, ordinarily so quick to jump at any opportunity to humiliate the Congress further, chose to play down the incident and insinuate that it thought the former Prime Minister was being unfairly pilloried, indicates that it is not very pleased at the development. One reason may lie in the party’s current struggles in the upper house of parliament where it faces an uphill task of passing crucial legislation including the insurance and land bills. Singh’s summons may exacerbate the already polarised atmosphere in the Rajya Sabha, encouraging greater disruption and chaos.

What is intriguing, however, is the clear attempt by BJP leaders to insulate, even defend, the former Prime Minister.

“It is a Congress scam because letters (seeking allocation for certain players) would come from somewhere else in the government. Jayanthi Natarajan (Environment Minister during Singh’s regime) has already said how the letters would come to recommend or block projects. Even in court, it is well-known fact that there was extra mis-influence used and therefore, the CBI enquiry,” said Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

He further quoted Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh as saying that the ex-Prime Minister had wanted to auction coal blocks, but the party did not allow him to do so. “And today, because of this Congress sin or Congress scam now, Manmohanji, an economist Prime Minister, has to face CBI charges”, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has no qualms about attacking the opposition, as he demonstrated during his motion of thanks to the President’s address in parliament, has also been conspicuously silent. His Twitter account makes absolutely no mention of either Manmohan Singh, the Congress party or even the coal scam.

Reports on the Times Now channel claim that BJP members even called the former Prime Minister to express solidarity. Other party leaders have done the same. JDU leader Sharad Yadav said, “it is not a big deal-…Manmohan Singh is an honest person.”

The Congress for its part, is on war footing. Party president Sonia Gandhi has called for an urgent party meeting, which all members are expected to attend. All party MPs are planning to express solidarity with Singh in Parliament, and Congress leaders led by Sonia Gandhi will lead a march from the AICC headquarters to the former Prime Minister’s residence to express support for him.

“He is known throughout the world as well as India as being extremely honest and forthright. We will fight with all the means at our disposal. I am sure that he will be vindicated”, she said.

The ‘outrage’ felt by the Congress is certainly likely to spill over on to the floor of the house of the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress has 67 seats.  A united opposition has already proved that it is a force to be reckoned with. Not only did it successfully move amendments to the Prime Minister’s motion of thanks, but it also sent the coal and mines bill to a select committee, overriding ferocious opposition from the ruling party.

Parliamentary considerations aside, what is most peculiar about the entire course of events is how Manmohan Singh, who was easily one of the most reviled political figures for the last two years, is suddenly Mr. Popular again. The man once derided as’Maun-mohan Singh’ by Modi has now become Manmohan_ji_ for the BJP. A man once publicly insulted by Rahul Gandhi – who famously tore up the UPA ordinance allowing convicted lawmakers to contest elections – and continuously sidelined by Sonia Gandhi has become a rallying point for a suddenly energised Congress party.

Manmohan Singh once claimed history would judge him kindly, and if recent events are any indication, he may well be right.