Manmohan dodges questions on Sonia Gandhi, Gursharan

Any slip and he would either be risking his professional relation with Congress president Sonia Gandhi or going home to a sulking wife in Gursharan Kaur.

The question was direct and simple: “Between Sonia Gandhi and Gursharan Kaur, whose advice he valued more?” His reply was equally direct and simple: “I am privileged to get constant advice from both Sonia and my wife. Both of them deal with different subjects.” With that he ensured there was peace, both at home and office.

Then came the questions on the extent of trust he shared with Gandhi. He was careful here, too, as he said: “There is no mistrust between Sonia and me. There is no gap in thinking. There is no gap between me and the Congress president.”

On criticism that the Congress gave more importance to Gandhi than to him, Singh said “there is no question” of his party undermining him. “My legacy is for historians to judge,” he added. Singh also showed diplomacy in tackling questions related to differences during Cabinet meetings. He admitted that there were differences of opinion during the meetings, but chose to qualify them as a sign of healthy approach. “I am pleased to tell you that the Cabinet, in the last six years, met almost every week. So ministers had plenty of opportunities to express their views...  these views should be first heard within the Cabinet. That’s the right thing,” he said.

On water crisis, however, there was no diplomacy. He differed with TN Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. “It is not correct to say that the Centre is only a mere bystander... every possible effort is being made and will be made to find amicable solutions to these problems,” he said.