Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who was severely criticised by the Left parties first for his economic policies as Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao Cabinet and later for the nuclear deal, has been invited by Communist Party of India to deliver A.B. Bardhan Memorial Lecture on September 25 in New Delhi.
Dr. Singh will be speaking on the ‘Need for defending Secularism and Constitution.’
As Finance Minister Dr. Singh faced bitter criticism for introducing liberalisation measures to open up the Indian economy. Left parties had launched all India non-cooperation agitation against the Rao government. A.B. Bardhan was one of the lead figures of this agitation.
During UPA I, the Left parties nearly toppled the government when they withdrew support protesting the decision to sign the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal in August 2008. Bardhan ignoring the voices with CPI decided to along with then CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat to walk out of the government. The Left criticised Dr. Singh of submitting to U.S. imperialist designs by signing the deal.
When CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy was asked why Dr. Singh was choosen to deliver the lecture, Mr. Reddy told The Hindu , “Why not? What is wrong in it? We are together today in this fight against communalism.”
Ideological differences aside, Bardhan and Dr. Singh shared a warm equation. “In the years of UPA-Left coordination committee, he and Dr. Singh worked closely. Comrade Bardhan was consulted often by former PM on various issues from drafting the Common Minimum Programme for UPA I to the elections of President and Vice President,” CPI MP D. Raja explained.
