Great and worthy son of India

Hyderabad: Giving a new dimension to alleged strained political relationships between the AICC President Sonia Gandhi and the Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao during the latter’s stint as PM from 1991 to 1996 in New Delhi, Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday made interesting revelation that “ it was Sonia Gandhi who chose Rao as the ninth Prime minister of India.”

Delivering second P V memorial lecture on “ unveiling of inclusive agenda by PV” organised by the HMTV and The Hans India, Azad said that after the general election results were announced in 1991, he met Sonia in his capacity as AICC General Secretary and asked her who would be the PM. The reply from Sonia was “ PV”. It was Rao who succeeded to run the minority government at centre for five year term and won the no confidence motion.

The union minister also disclosed some interesting facts about the former Prime minister’s political career. After the 1989 general election, Rao had not shown interest to continue in politics. Rao told during one- on – one meeting with him that ‘he wanted to take rest and will confine to only writing work. He also wanted to shift to Hyderabad from national capital and spend most of his time reading and writing books’. Extolling Rao for his contribution in all sectors, Azad said the liberalised economic policies with human face introduced by the ‘multi- faceted’ former Prime minister PV Narasimha Rao two decades ago paved the way for the emergence of India as a “ great power” in the World.

The Union Health minister said that the results of the Rao’s economic policies had far reaching impact on the country’s economy and had lead to the reduction of fiscal deficit, greater investment in infrastructure and increase in revenues.

Azad said, the liberalisation policies unleashed the growth of the economy providing greater impetus to employment generation and increased revenues both in public and private sectors in the country. He said that the inclusive development and social welfare were very close to the heart of the departed leader. Besides strengthening the economy, Rao also laid more emphasis on employment generation, literacy, education, health, drinking water and provision of adequate food and basic infrastructure.

It was a matter of fact that “the human face of the new economic policies” continued to be the main agenda for the Congress which came to power two consecutive times in the country, Azad added.

Stating that Rao was a ‘great thinker, writer and erudite scholar, Azad said it was to the credit of the former Prime Minister that “he did not let the strong political challenges dampen his enthusiasm. He displayed conviction and courage in equal measures to sustain the reforms for economic recovery and growth.”

Recalling his close association with Rao during his 40 year political career in national politics, the union minister said that Rao was a leader of many qualities. Rao’s famous statement as a Prime minister that ‘not taking a decision is also a decision’ was a measure of his studied reflection on issues. His wisdom, deep understanding of issues, maturity, patience and his judgment on timeliness of decision taken or the ability to persuade and convince people made Rao an outstanding personality in Indian polity.

“He was also a linguist par excellence and may be the only Indian politicians who could speak so many languages including Telugu, Hindi, Urdu, Oriya, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati and English. He was equally fluent in French, Arabic, Spanish, German, Greek, Latin and Persian fluently, ” Azad said that he was also personally acquainted with Rao’s fluency in Marathi.

Explaining the another aspect of Rao’s leadership, the union minister said that the adept handling of India’s foreign policy and security concerns by Rao had brought laurels to the country at international level It was PV Narasimha Rao who had increased considerably military spending and energised the national nuclear security and ballistic missiles programme. He brought India closer to ASEAN group of countries by launching “Look East Policy and displayed a firm handling of strategic issues like terrorist threats. Rao dealt with terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and brought things under control which finally made possible to hold Assembly elections there in 1996.