Appraising Rediff.com about the meeting, a source close to Dr Singh said Modi sought Dr Singh's advice on the economy and foreign policy. Dr Singh told Modi that he concurs with the RBI's concerns about the Indian economy.
Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com reports on the prime minister's meeting with his predecessor that sent New Delhi's political circles into a tizzy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a political trap and his predecessor walked into it.
Dr Manmohan Singh sent shock waves in the Congress party on Wednesday, May 27, when he walked to his home of ten years and television channels started beaming footage of Modi receiving him at 7, Race Course Road. Later, Modi tweeted about the meeting along with two photographs.
For the Congress leadership it was a most inappropriate time for Dr Singh to meet Modi.
It was the mischievous politician Modi at his best. On the first anniversary of his government Modi called his predecessor, says a source close to Dr Singh.
Modi is an ardent follower of Dr Singh's economic ideas and has implemented many of them in Gujarat when he was chief minister.
A senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, however, says the meeting was fixed a fortnight ago.
A statement issued by the Congress party says, 'At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh met the Prime Minister today at 6.30 pm at his residence, 7 Race Course Road. They discussed the economic situation in the country and Foreign Policy issues.'
This statement was released after Dr Singh met Modi. Probably, at the behest of a party which disapproved of the meeting.
The timing of Dr Singh's meeting was all wrong.
How can a senior leader like Dr Singh meet his party's biggest critic on the very day that he criticised him?
When news about the encounter emerged, Congress leaders felt Modi had the last laugh. The Gandhi family's most trusted retainer and the icon of India's economic reforms was giving the gift of a Twitter-friendly photo-opportunity to the party's main political adversary.
A few hours before meeting the prime minister, Dr Singh had slammed Modi and his government. The very idea of India is now under systemic assault, he said. Speaking at a Youth Congress event, Dr Singh said the institutions of democracy are under threat and the entire edifice of the welfare State is being dismantled under the guise of promoting faster economic growth.
The former prime minister failed his successor in his examination of the economy under Modi's rule. Dr Singh felt there was fragility in the economic recovery under the current dispensation.
Before news of Dr Singh's indictment of the Modi government could spread, the former prime minister arrived at 7, Race Course Road.
When the meeting was entirely advantage Modi, why did Dr Singh agree to the encounter? Dr Singh, the source close to him, said, could not be rude to the prime minister and reject Modi's invitation for a chat.
Dr Singh does not want to be misunderstood, the sourece added. If it was just a courtesy call, why did it go on for more than 30 minutes? The source had no answer.
Appraising Rediff.com about the meeting, the source said Modi sought Dr Singh's advice on the economy and foreign policy. Dr Singh told Modi that he concurs with the Reserve Bank of India's concerns about the Indian economy.
When Modi asked him about foreign policy, the source close to Dr Singh says he requested the prime minister to speak to his party on issues related to foreign policy.
Dr Singh faces troubled times as the 2G spectrum case is stuck in the Supreme Court and will remain undecided for a long time to come unless the former prime minister makes a submission to the court to expedite the case if and when the court considers the matter.
Dr Singh, like all politicians, is extremely image conscious. As he walks into the sunset of his life he does not want his ten years as India's prime minister to be tarnished. He suffers from diabetes, underwent bypass surgery in 2009 and also suffers from loss of hearing.
If we go by Dr Singh's version that he went to see Modi at the prime minister's request, it is surprising that he did not inform Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
By meeting Modi within a couple of hours after slamming his government's economic performance Dr Singh revealed he is worried about something. Former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Pradip Baijal has alleged that Dr Singh warned him of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licenses.
Congress leaders have defended Dr Singh and claimed Baijal is seeking favours from the Modi government.
By giving Modi an easy political opportunity in a crucial week it is clear that Dr Singh feels insecure. Modi launched a scathing attack against Dr Singh's party and Sonia Gandhi in an interview granted to Press Trust of India on May 27. He met Dr Singh soon after the interview went public.
Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Dr Manmohan Singh at 7, Race Course Road, May 27. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
