Never the most articulate of speakers, a battered and beleaguered Manmohan Singh has reportedly decided to subject himself to a grand inquisition at the hands of the tigers of television. Tomorrow morning, if all goes as planned, a set of TV journalists will fling their questions at the prime minister.
And, hopefully, he will answer them. Live.
Unlike his previous interaction with the media, which came in the backdrop of naxalism, price rise, 2G and “trust deficit”, this time’s pow-wow comes in the midst of soaring inflation, “governance deficit”—and the S-band scam which has brought questions about his “conspiracy of silence, culpable inaction and gross indifference” to his doorstep.
Plus, there is the “Shankaracharya of Lavasa”, Arun Shourie‘s claim that he told the PM that the loot (in the 2G scam) was happening in his name, etc.
Hopefully, the ladies and gentlemen of the idiot box will not hurl soft-ball questions at the PM and will not stop with vague answers. Still, why give them a chance? What is the one question that the Arnabs, Barkhas and Rajdeeps should ask sadda Manmohan (provided they are invited, that is)?
Like, Mr Prime Minister, “the nation wants to know”, do you think it is all over for you? Like, Mr PM, why was Montek Singh Ahluwalia picked for the Padma Vibhushan?
Please refrain from keeping your queries longwinded and self-congratulatory, thank you.
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Also read: One question I’m dying to ask Manmohan Singh-I
Have the middle-classes deserted Manmohan Singh?
CHURUMURI POLL: Is Manmohan Singh still “Mr Clean”?
CHURUMURI POLL: Will Manmohan Singh be PM till 2014?
Tags: Arnab Goswami, Arun Shourie, Barkha Dutt, Churumuri, Manmohan Singh, Rajdeep Sardesai, Sans Serif, Shankaracharya of Lavasa
15 February 2011 at 2:35 pm
How did you manage to become cleanest PM to King of most corrupt govt India has ever seen?
15 February 2011 at 2:36 pm
What is your plan to win next election?
15 February 2011 at 2:37 pm
How soon is Mr. Sharad Pawar voluntarily retiring?
15 February 2011 at 3:08 pm
Mr Prime Minister, how long can a country cope with policies that are a compromise because of coalition compulsion? What is more important – coalition dharma or duty to the nation?
15 February 2011 at 4:16 pm
Is shielding the corrupt due to politics more important than serving the nation which trusted you?
15 February 2011 at 4:22 pm
MR PM, what do you consider yourself as ;
a. Economist
b. A failed politician
15 February 2011 at 4:23 pm
Mr. Prime Minister, I am Arnab from TimesNow, the only TV news anchor in this room who has not got a Padma. Will I get one before Nandan moves into 7 RCR?
15 February 2011 at 4:30 pm
Respected Sir, what is the difference and similarity between your silence and your Friend, Philosopher and and Guide – late Mr. PVN’s silence?
15 February 2011 at 4:51 pm
Mr. Singh, Why doesn’t your government ever communicate?
Why doesn’t your government advertise its accomplishments in a powerful and engaging manner?
Why doesn’t your government bother to stoutly and strongly explain allegations flung by the opposition and the media?
Why does it allow the negative propaganda against it to fester?
Why is the Congress always in a reaction mode?
Why does it not get proactive and take on the BJP for its multi scams be it in Madhya Pradesh or Gujarat or Karnataka?
Why is it allowing the impression that Congress has become synonymous with corruption – although the BJP is much worse than your party?
Why is your government Sphinx like in its response?
Don’t you think your party and government urgently needs a PR or an ad person?
15 February 2011 at 5:39 pm
when are you going?
15 February 2011 at 6:52 pm
DB: Nandan moving 7 RCR? If that ever becomes true, drinks on the house for you mate! (Not that I think very highly of Nandan, only coz, that is the wildest prediction, that I think could become true)
15 February 2011 at 6:59 pm
Why do you want to be the catspaw of somebody? Cannot you free yourself from the shackles and act boldly to assert your authority in a no nonsense manner?
15 February 2011 at 7:45 pm
15 February 2011 at 7:50 pm
Guys relax, there wont be any tough questions.
What will happen is (or would have happened is )
1) All questions are ready, MMS is preparing answers for that
2) There wont be any ‘Thappar’ish kind of grilling, Because all Q and A is already scripted.
3) As soon as this is over all TV Channels will go ga ga over how well he answered. how he removed his ‘weak’ tag, how innocent he is etc
4) Some journalist will get Padma award.
So, guys, just chill. We have seen anough of this dramabaazi.
15 February 2011 at 8:10 pm
Well Pm, why did you come alone to this?I don’ see Sonia without whom you have no locus standi.Actually she is the one who should answer for all these scam.Why is she not here?
15 February 2011 at 8:40 pm
MM Sir,
It is time to quit. Please nominate some clean and powerful person to replace you. May be somebody with corporate background….like nandan nilekani or Narayan murthy. Let them run the country….
15 February 2011 at 8:54 pm
Did it take you all these weeks to get permission from Madam to meet the press?
15 February 2011 at 9:24 pm
Was having this press conference your own decision or did you do it under pressure from your party?
15 February 2011 at 9:39 pm
@Simple
>>Why does it not get proactive and take on the BJP for its multi scams be it in Madhya Pradesh or Gujarat or Karnataka?
What’s the “Multiscam-BJP-Gujarat” thing…Pls throw some light on this “Simply”….
15 February 2011 at 10:49 pm
Saar –
1. Daily after getting up and washing your mouth, do you go to Sonia and wish her “good morning madam” – in “I am your most obidient servant” attire and expression
2. Are you cleaning the “Chair” daily with a good polish/cloth, so that the not-so-young baba can occupy the day he thinks he has arrived?
3. How much “Performance Bonus” did you get for 2G?
4. How does it feel to “fiddle your thumb happily” when the whole country is groaning under the scams/price rise etc.
5. What do you do or use to keep your mouth shut and look so dumb, conveying “nothing has happened around me”
6. When are you conferring Bharata Ratna to Tiru Muka
7. Lastly – How about quitting?
15 February 2011 at 11:00 pm
Have you heard of someone by name LalBhadur Shastri? and what is coalition dharma and national adharma.
16 February 2011 at 2:52 am
I see that every one is picking on MMS….. Sadda Manmohan ki galath karndha… he is inoccent….agar galat hai to apni italy ki madam.
MMS has been busy convincing people that something should be done but you know how loud MMS is. Barely any one can hear him.
16 February 2011 at 12:38 pm
@G,
Allrighty, start stocking my preferred poison which helps people to keep on walking ;-), colour of the label does not matter……
16 February 2011 at 12:54 pm
Prashanth,
SIT has not given a clean chit to Gujarat govt. It has said that evidence was tampered with. The nature of this observation is very serious..no less than a scam.
16 February 2011 at 4:00 pm
Where are you Manmohan singh?
16 February 2011 at 10:09 pm
Same shameless answer
I am not quitting
Will the answer be the same if Rahul Gandhi is near?
Kalla baddimaklu just like DG and sons.
17 February 2011 at 10:35 pm
This man is really thick-skinned. The self-professed Mr.Clean doesn’t have an iota of shame. If he can’t stand the heat, let him get out of the kitchen!! Else, let him deliver by taking stringent action, instead of mumbling about subsidies and such inane nonsense.
Never before in our history, have we seen such a powerless PM. He is a good pupil of his political guru PVN. Like his guru, he believes in sitting quietly and hoping that things will sort themselves out….