tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19451417.post6313240118730145559..comments2023-07-02T21:12:43.266+05:30Comments on The Argumentative Indian: Manmohan Singh - The Manchurian CandidateJusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15938509910551379491noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19451417.post-84816061640466572082011-07-16T10:29:38.090+05:302011-07-16T10:29:38.090+05:30That is apt movie scene you recounted, from 'T...That is apt movie scene you recounted, from 'The Sum of All Fears'. I clearly remember that scene and I liked the actor too, who played that role.<br /><br />Indian leaders are still in Raja Maharaja culture, the feudal mode. In fact, the Shashi Tharoor twitter episodes and his eventual exit showed the discomfort of ruling lot with any effort from the ruling elite towards the general public.<br /><br />I don't think Mr Singh has much of his choice in handling his public image. He was picked up because he is subservient to the 'high command'. Imagine if the same 'high command' could have handed that post to a political leader who could have won an general election. It would have been difficult to handle such a politician. Mr Manmohan Singh is a trojan horse for the congressmen to deceptively corrupt.<br /><br />In hindsight, I feel the election over nuclear deal thing was well planned by the Congress High Command and I don't think MMS had a role then either. And the Wikileaks about congressmen showing the money to US consulate men revealed how US backed congress to the hilt for that election, because of their business interests.Justhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15938509910551379491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19451417.post-72643393959423286962011-07-13T18:48:00.751+05:302011-07-13T18:48:00.751+05:30Hi Amar,
I accept that MMS would do a better job ...Hi Amar,<br /><br />I accept that MMS would do a better job than Liev Schreiber in the Manchurian Candidate. <br /><br />Wanted to add another filmi incident.<br /><br />In the movie, <b>The Sum of All Fears</b> , some rogue generals launch a chemical attack on Chechenya. The Russian President Nemerov, who doesn't know who ordered the launch, goes on national television and owns up the attack. He then tells his advisor in the lift <b> "Its better to appear cruel than to appear without control" .</b> <br /><br />All over the world , leaders are vying to appear as the <i> "Regular Joe" </i> - Obama attends David Letterman's show, David Cameron attends radio shows and speaks about Twitter ( when he (in)famoulsy said that "Two Tweets make a Twat" ) , Angela's office is on Twitter , Chavez is on Twitter and so on. Contrary to that , Indian political thought still believes that familiarity breeds contempt and borders on invisibility. I think that is true of the entire top leadership of India's oldest political party. The PM has 3 press-conferences in 7 years , Sonia Gandhi gives only carefully orchestrated interviews and Rahul ,after a few gaffes, has gone into a shell. Compare that to the Presidential hoepfuls in the US whose televised debates can help in making better informed desicions. I was reading somewhere that there was a Twitter handle called "Finding Manmohan" which was fairly popular.<br /><br />The problem is that since he spent the greater part of his life as a bureaucrat he still remains one long after he has ceased to be one. <br /><br />The only point when he showed spine was about the nuclear deal when he told the communists in the interview to the Telegraph "..if they want to withdraw support, so be it….". He may have lost the communists but he certainly gained a lot of middle class who was looking for a leader. I think a lot of the city-bred , educated , middle-class voted for his party just because of the stand he took. Unfortunately he only flattered to deceive. Blaming the coilation politics for the scams does not cut much ice with the voter. MMS's personal integrity cannot redeem his government. The fury of India was on full display at Hazare's fast.India is angry and wants accountabilityR Adarshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06793203347315125767noreply@blogger.com