President Abdul Kalam raised no objection to Sonia Gandhi becoming Prime Minister in 2004. Instead, he had been prepared to swear her in despite intense pressure from various parties and politicians, as that was the only “Constitutionally tenable” option available to him if the Congress chief had staked her claim.
Mr. Kalam says this in his forthcoming memoir, Turning Points, thus lifting the veil on an episode that has been wildly speculated upon, with right-wing sections till today convinced that he had dissuaded the Italian-born Ms. Gandhi from considering the prime ministership. In the book, the former President reveals that his office had readied a letter inviting Ms. Gandhi to form the government as Prime Minister but that she surprised him by nominating Manmohan Singh in her place: “This was definitely a surprise to me and the Rashtrapati Bhavan Secretariat had to rework the letter appointing Dr. Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister.”
The former President says he was inundated with “emails and letters from individuals, organisations and parties” asking him not to accept Ms. Gandhi’s prime ministerial claim, all of which he passed on to “various agencies in the government for their information without making any remarks.” Visiting political leaders added to the pressure. But these demands were “constitutionally untenable”, and if Ms. Gandhi “had made any claim for herself, I would have had no option but to appoint her.”
In the same chapter, Mr. Kalam discloses that he wrote out his resignation in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment holding unconstitutional the May 23, 2005 midnight dissolution of the Bihar Assembly. He says he dropped the move after the Prime Minister pleaded with him not to resign as the resulting furore might lead to the fall of the government. The President was away in Moscow when Dr. Singh called him twice and conveyed the Union Cabinet’s decision to dissolve the Assembly based on reports from the State Governor. Mr. Kalam writes that he quizzed the Prime Minister on the urgency to dissolve an Assembly that had been in suspended animation for six months but nonetheless signed the midnight proclamation because he was convinced the government had made up its mind. However, despite his explicit request, he felt the government did not properly present the President’s action in court, leading to adverse judicial remarks on the Cabinet, which is “mine and I have to take the responsibility.”
Keywords: 2004 Lok Sabha results, President Abdul Kalam, UPA government formation, Prime Ministership, Sonia Gandhi, foreign-origin issue
Of course, there was no constitutional way the then president could have objected to anyone that the coalition having the largest numbers in Parliament wanted to foist as its prime ministerial candidate. That does not, however, mean that a formal submission to Rashtrapati Bhavan, now in the public domain thanks to Subhash Agarwal's RTI application, was not considered in APJ Abdul Kalam's scheme of things. If the "emails and letters from individuals, organisations and parties" pleading with him to rule out Gandhi include the letter written by Subramanian Swamy, we have to arrive at a conclusion fraught with an unacceptable implication: That the government can lie even in response to RTI applications!
The 'lie' reads: "Letter written by Dr Subramanian Swamy, president, Janata Party to the president was inter alia, a communication sent in confidence by him to the president, based on which the president exercised his/her discretion to appoint the prime minister under Article 75."
Kalam wrote in his book(as reported by Hindu) that Sonia and manmohan came to him with letters of support in her favour but she asked Kalam to appoint manmohan ,and then he got the appointment order changed in favour of Manmohan.
Then , it is clearly illegal to appoint Manmohan without new support letters in his favour.
Who can save country from this kind of people and misdeeds.
An unnecessary controversy has been stirred by Dr. Kalam's book. Its timing is
bound to enable Mr Pranab Mukherjee to draw more support for his candidacy.
However, the views of Dr Kalam are quite contrary to public perception about his
reservations to swear in Ms Sonia Gandhi as PM as that time she had not given up
her Italian citizenship & there was opposition even from within her party. It is
greatly surprising why it took such a long time for Dr Kalam to public his memoirs.
To present a different view about Ms Gandhi after a very long gap gives an
impression that the former President has changed the views held by him then in
view of the fact that Ms Gandhi has now consolidated her position, has a strong
hold in the congress party & further that her earlier detractors like Mr Pawar etc
have accepted her leadership. Dr. Kalam has to come out open with appropriate
documents to prove his views published in the book. Dr Kalam is sure to attract
more criticism on this score.
This raises a few points:
1. Timing - Is this time appropriate for Former President APJ A Kalam (Kalam) to have published this in a book. So, the book is late. What if it came a month before when various parties were scrambling for a Presidential candidate? Would it have tilted scales in Kalam's favour? If yes, then very unfortunate for Kalam to have made a statement. It appears that this was timed for Presidential race.
2. Timing, again - Why did he not clarify this when he was in tenure? Was he afraid of being called pro-congress at that time? Even if so, wasnt he already acting in concert with ruling party? Just returning one Act/Bill doesnt make him unbiased.
3. Why the Rejection? - Congress didnt reject Kalam for his views on Sonia. Many allies were not particularly supportive of Kalam due to his pro-congress stance in his earlier term. It would have been difficult to garner support. Sangma was clearly out of Congress' radar coz of his anti-Sonia sentiments...
Then President Dr.Kalam signed the proclamation for dissolving the Bihar Assembly which was in coma state.Such situation for India's Presidents is always one of sign or resign and Dr.Kalam was prevailed upon not to precipitate matters.The chief villain of the piece was the government of the day which got away with the Supreme Court's stricture as happens with the constitutional transgressions every time.Dr.Manmohan Singh is at the helm for a fairly long period and he is witness to many instances of his good and not so good governance and interactions with people.One expects Dr.Manmohan Singh too like Dr.Kalam writes his memoirs that will be packed with far more events of interest to the country and its evolving history.
shunned, may be question of taking responsibility. better power without responsibility.
It's surprise and shocking NEWS :-( . I have never expected such controversial remark from Kalam! He should keep himself out of this political allegation game, just to save his image & reputation.
It only shows that Ms Sonia Gandhi is not only a politician but also a stateswoman. She is visionary in the respect that she knew that she could prime minister but ultimately be the butt of criticism for being a "foreign bau". She made India emerge as a greater nation by not nominating herself as prime minister. Indeed she deserves all praise to rise above personal interest.Although she faces much criticism for "saving the dynasty", she is actually preserving the much touted democracy of India.Congress leads because of its still secular credentials.
The former president Dr Abdul Kalam's clarification that he considered 'constitutionally untenable' the opposition to Sonia Gandhi holding the office of the prime minister has come at the appropriate time. For, the BJP candidate Sangma in the present presidential poll is known to have left the Congress mainly on the question of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin. A person holding such controversial views visa-a-vis the constitutional position as endorsed by a president may lead to political instability.So,Mr.Kalam should have disclosed it long back.
However this definitely raises questions over the Subramaniyam Swamy's long standing claim that APJ was against Sonia Gandhi.
I wonder what great achievement is rendered by speaking what he did or did not
when it mattered in the hindsight. Is he trying to play the game of politics which he
is not an adept at?
@Raghuraman.R- I do not agree with your view “I want Sonia to be PM to be PM at least for a day.” Do not you think that already three members of Gandhi-Nehru Family have ruled us as the Prime Ministers? It is true that the Right Wing has exploited Sonia’s Foreign Origin issue in order to project itself as the protectors of Indian interests by filtering out foreign elements. We, citizens of more than 150 crores, should not demand that a Prime Minister to rule this democracy should emerge only from the Nehru-Gandhi Family. We have to review our understanding of Democracy and leadership in India.
Even a child can assess the situation: Kalam was definitely interested for a second term. In the number game UPA clearly had an advantage.Kalam knew that without UPA support his dream for a second term would not materialize.He did not say soon enough that he was not interested, when Mamata beat the drums for him.Saying good things for Vajpaye, and saying he was ready for Sonia as PM are together a clever ploy unbecoming of Kalam, supposedly a great man.The timing of publication of the book, though it was late to come out by a month perhaps, is also a significant pointer - in plain term. Kalam is now lying about the event.He is in this sense, no different from another overrated hero namely Manmohan Singh.
An Excellent person...like Dr.Kalam ..it is so sad why he is not supported by Congress for presidential candidate ..... I am sure that correpted congress party canot support a Non-correpted personality.... Dear Kalam dont worry we will stand along with you for a reformed nation.....INDIA.
I am reminded of a great quote by Plato "wise men speak because they
have something to say, fools because they have to say something"
-well some Right Wing groups and Political parties will have to rethink
what they have claimed all this years. Dr Kalam is a man with Wisdom.
I am glad this comedy from saffron folks has come to an end at least
now. It was intolerable to listen, not just to this comedy, but also to
the conspiracy theory that Pratibha Patil was made President because
only then Sonia can become PM. Sonia could have become PM anyday
because even in UPA's previous term, Left did not oppose Sonia becoming
PM. DMK never opposed her becoming PM. I want Sonia to be PM to be PM
at least for a day. I want to see whether we will have a massive
earthquake or any calamity which the 'right' was dead wrong about.
This disclosure in his book Turning Points by Abdul Kalam that he was ready to make Sonia as the Prime Minister does not destroy the scientist’s integrity in anyway; in fact what he has stated is as it happened; it is a Gandhian Quality to state things straight. But when a Gandhian finds himself in the Presidentship, he becomes helpless being surrounded by feudal, dynastic and communal political parties waiting to cash on his popular and admirable qualities that are less in most of political leaders.
We are human being. We know that we are not good in 100%. Still, we can rate the person based on the percentage of goodness. Dr. APJ dedicated most time of his life for development of countries and technologies. We always say that so many involved in the development. The question arises who is the responsible for the impulse which will initiate the activities. In our life, we forget the person who is the responsible for impulse. In that way Dr. APJ spread the good message among youngsters without expecting any profits. That is very important. Many people are doing good things after collecting huge money and taking flat area, bungalows, cars and so on. In that way, Dr. APJ is one of the best quality persons in the world. How many people are serving for the people without profit. He spends his life and income for the development of many things. Many presidents lived in Rashtrapati Bhavan. We need to ask the money they spent during their tenure. Then we can understand who is the best?
So........what is wrong in it ? UPA had won majority seats in Lok Sabha
and the MPs of UPA elected her as their Leader and she would have been
administered the oath of Prime Minister if she had staked her claim !
Shri APJ A Kalam, then President of India had no choice. The President of
India is obliged to appoint a person as Prime Minister who has the
support of the majority of MPs. Ms Sonia did have the requisite
majority and if she were elected as leader of the Majority Alliance, The
President of India has to invite her to take oath as Prime Minister.
Personal choice has no place in the Constitution.
What an unfortunate political system in this Democratic country we have. In the last seven decades, so far, we have been ruled by 3 members from the same family as the Prime Ministers; in other states, Fathers, Daughter, Sons, Son-in-laws, Daughter-in-laws, Nephews, etc. are in power either as MPs, MLs, and Ministers, but elected democratically by the people. We need to enact a strong Anti-Dynastic Law (ADL) that destroys the Family Business in Indian Politics and prevents members of the same family ruling us claiming ownership for the continuing Gandhian legacy of the Freedom Movement due to their forefathers’ participation in it. Even Mahatma Gandhi would not have accepted this Dynastic Root being part of the Indian Democratic Tree. Dr. Abdul Kalam, a Gandhian and a lovable and likable former President of crores of children, could have analysed this aspect before making up his mind to call Sonia for the Prime Ministership (as he claims in his book).
I have no reason to revise my long held opinion that such books are the product of super egos and should not be published when all the characters or dramatis personae are still around in public sphere. There is a constant attempt in such books to justify the author's actions with hindsight and confess to no mistake.
Mr. Kalam may be the former president constitutionally but is still very
well present in the mind of millions of Indian.A president in true
secular terms with high integrity and presence of mind.By rejecting the
candidature request for the 14th presidential poll he has well answered
figuratively that it is the post of high honor beyond politics and
something must not be fishy in this honorable post.Salute to a great
soul.He will keep inspiring the world with his wisdom and truth.
People are saying, Kalam should have clarified this and that. I request
them all to please wait for the book. Read it and then comment.
All actions by Dr. Kalam during his Presidential tenure, as mentioned in the article here, go to prove the decency and belief in the constitution of Dr. Kalam. It was a moral obligation on the part of Ms. Sonia Gandhi in 2004 not to claim the prime ministership for herself, as the feeling of her inner self, that she is not an Indian by birth, would have dissuaded her from doing so. However, this action of hers, was projected as a supreme sacrifice by her party men and exploited to the maximum possible extent for drawing political and other benefit out of it; and as the events that unfolded thereafter, it suggests that her party men had her tacit and shrewd support behind them for following such a line of action.
It is immaterial what or who stopped Sonia Gandhi from becoming PM. The
fact that Indians are ready to be ruled by a foreigner directly or
indirectly goes a long way to show how much more we have to go to become
a vibrant civilization again. We can't be lost in the past glory, as
that was some thousand years ago. We have to redefine who we are today
and what will we be in the the future.
Why this clarification in a book now , Mr.Kalam . You could have cleared this in your Presdential tenure. And our next PM will be Sonia Gandhi after this if her health permits. Is this a great news or a sad news for the country?
May be Dr APJ's advisers were not conversant with the Constitutional provisions or may be this so called "revelation" is a mischievous proof-reading mistake by the publishers.
What Dr APJ has stated is a statement of fact that the President is obliged to invite the Leader of the party with majority to form the Govt.
I dont think he would have shown haste in case Sonia wanted to be declared as PM. He would have firmly;y, politely advised and dissuaded her to get out of the reckoning.
To my knowledge, only 3 individuals have functioned as Independent President - Dr Rajendra Prasad / Dr Radhakrishnan and Dr APJ - without caring for any personal benefits.
..It is very ironical that Indian System has become personality oriented and hero worshiping. The story so far projected about Kalam has been negatived by himself. The dissolution of Bihar assembly when he was on foreign tour is highly objectionable. Had this action been taken by other persons [ Like Pratiba ] the press would have at once pronounced them as rubber stamp and after power. I don't see the reasons to call Kalam as Missile man as he was only heading a division and there are numerous unsung Scientists of higher calbre in the organisation. I feel rightly his candidature was rejected by congress..
Many things we don't know. As usual we think, give credit to the person, we like all good qualities,- let him be an actor, sports person, political leader or anybody for that matter. With all due respect to Dr. Kalam, as President, he was not corrupt, simple, moving with all sections of people, advising young children and youngsters and so on. But as President, he was doing whatever things the ruling party wanted; dissolution of Bihar Assembly was an example.Sending a bill back for reconsideration knowing fully well that it will be passed cannot be termed as a great act. While being a Space scientist, accepting the honour / name came as that of Nuclear expert, also was not correct; he was only the advisor to the Government. Compare this to Dr. Dhavan, the exchairman of ISRO; He has given the full credit to Dr. Kalam for his SLV success, which was the stepping stone for his rise. Comparing to many others, we see today, he is good and great.
If Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Manmohan Singh supported the candidature of Mr.Abdul Kalam I think there was nothing better than this.
Dr. Kalam could have is a different story. However, he did not and it was good for the Nation.
Completely exposes (using Kalam's own words) the charade of the utterly useless right wing who tried to convey that APKJ was opposed to Sonia.
The former president Dr Abdul Kalam's clarification that he considered 'constitutionally untenable' the opposition to Sonia Gandhi holding the office of the prime minister has come at the appropriate time. For, the BJP candidate Sangma in the present presidential poll is known to have left the Congress mainly on the question of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin. Sangma's controversial quip 'how many passports does she hold' had preceded the formation of NCP. Sangma is not known to have clarified his stand on the issue which had spurred almost of a political turmoil as described by Dr Kalam. A person holding such controversial views visa-a-vis the constitutional position as endorsed by a president may lead to political instability.
I trust what is reported in the news. He is the rational and straight speaking apart from few others in the political circus that Indian politics is.
This is shocking news.Why didn't Mr.Kalam clarified this then and there when the news was 'It seems innocuous,and unacceptable.It is lowering his credibility.
If she had herself made the claim, I would have had no option but to appoint he' This statement alone sums up what Dr.Kalam felt about Sonia's prime ministerial ambition.
Yet the title is deliberately so misleading. As if Kalam was eagerly waiting to anoint Sonia.
Whats up with the HINDU?
If the people of India had given their mandate for a political party to rule and that party has elected a citizen of India to be the Prime Minister, The President (guardian of the constitution) has no option but to uphold the wishes of the people he serves. There is no decree in Indian constitution (unlike USA) that a foreign born citizen can not be the Prime Minister. If the people of India didnt want Sonia Gandhi to be the PM then they would not have voted the INC to power. So it is immaterial what other political parties say on this matter.
Kalam has been an inspiring character in most Indians' minds all the while.This revelation,if true , does not bring any kudos to his judgment or sympathies! It says,nobody is perfect! It is time India is ruled truly by Indians! Is it not what Mahatma fought for over 30 years to achieve!?
Mr. Kalam had a great personality and he served country during his tenure. There is an intense fear in current coalition of UPA if Kalam is relected.
The reason is quiet simple. Kalam is very honest and possess high integrity, quiet different from other Presidents. Kalam rigorously quizzes on each bill passed in parliament before final seal off. This has put congress government in jittery position several times due to poor documentation or misleading bill on some clauses. This was not a rumour but it is widely spoken on various political circles and among citizens as well. Kalam is potraited as strict, clearly organized, unbiased and highly honest while he is at duty.
Kalam, your the best and we all miss you !
The headline is incomplete as it does not mention anything about second paragraph. Mr. Kalam saved the UPA-1 government from falling down. Its a shame that Congress takes so many decisions which are held unconstitutional by honourable supreme court of India. And there should be a reference to the then governor of Bihar Mr.Boota Singh who crossed every limit to dissolve the assembly which has majority of members from non-UPA political parties. Atrocity by congress should not be overlooked while making a report.
This definitely raises questions over the Subramaniyam Swamy's long standing claim that APJ was against Sonia Gandhi. He has got to do some explanation now.
Apart from his immense contributions to the nation, It was this quality of Dr.Kalam that endeared him to people - he was NOT a rubber stamp president. Few other presidents would have questioned the ruling party with assertion the way he did. No wonder congress and Sonia never liked him. And of course his sense of moral responsibility. Wish the cabinet ministers on behalf of whom he offered to resign, had a fraction of Kalam' s values.
Sri Kalam's above disclosures do not present the picture of a president different from many of his predecessors. It only shows that ample other areas to show his real mettle and he
quite admirably held on to them.
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