Is there an air of added nobility in Dr Manmohan Singh's pronouncements these days?
Is there an air of added nobility in Dr Manmohan Singh's pronouncements these days? Always extremely measured and almost never tempted to retort in haste, Dr Singh's foreign policy statements have always been excessively calculated. To those unused to his ways, they seem wishy-washy, and fall rather short of being iconic. But, we now discover there may actually be a method to his method! There is the buzz these days that Dr Singh may now be aspiring to a Nobel Peace Prize in the near future.
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Method man: Manmohan Singh
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Given that he is currently being accused of succumbing to American pressure and talking to Pakistan without conditions, there is reason for the speculation to seem a little bit more than the usual unkind insinuation. The fact that close on his return from abroad, the US Secretary of State arrived in a hurry, has made that buzz more insistent.
As if all this is not enough, the Europeans are also throwing their weight behind Singh, in the hope that some imminent, military purchases will be ordered from them however contradictory that may seem! Commerce after all is supreme. And commerce, by way of the Anand Sharma variety, is also crucial to Singh's next big move.
There are hints he may ensure the Gordian knot currently strangling Doha talks is cut. Even Jairam Ramesh may have to soften in Copenhagen!
In addition to all that Singh is able to do on his own, he's also likely to be helped by a Cabinet colleague who understands the Nobel Peace Prize selection process well. He, who must remain unnamed for the moment, is more than obliged and inclined to become an accessory to snagging for Dr Singh, the well-deserved global decoration. In any case, remember you read it here first!
