File photo of Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in Parliament. (PTI)
No longer a reluctant MP, Rajnath Singh gained political weight for the way he handled the discussion on China in the Rajya Sabha, and for coming to Congress after Anurag Thakur’s controversial comments about the Nehru-Gandhi family in the Lok Sabha. .
- CNN-News18
- Last update: September 21, 2020 8:31 am IST
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In his circle of admirers, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is called ‘Ajatashatru’, or the man who has no enemies. Given the nature of politics, this may not be entirely true, but Rajnath Singh has certainly won admirers at the current Monsoon Session of Parliament. And many of them are in the opposition camp.
Opposition News18 leaders spoke to agree that Singh is easy to do business with. They praise his behavior and the fact that he listens and does not speak contemptuously to anyone.
“We saw it at the all-party business advisory committee meeting. We were discussing the priority of the bills. Instead of telling us what we should do, he asked us what we could do, ”said a senior opposition leader.
For many opposition leaders, this is a departure from the brazen behavior of some leaders and negotiators. “He understands the political language and party compulsions,” says a congressional veteran.
In the absence of Interior Minister Amit Shah, who is receiving post-Covid care, the task of floor coordination in Parliament has fallen to one of the most important ministers in the Narendra Modi government.
Rajnath Singh understands that the opposition is belligerent in complaining that the government does not give them a voice. However, he did everything possible to ensure that the opposition found its voice. Rajnath Singh deserves credit for ensuring a fluid discussion on such a complex and sensitive topic as the India-China showdown at Rajya Sabha, in stark contrast to the scenes witnessed at the Lok Sabha, where Congress withdrew.
In the Upper House, all the leaders were allowed to speak and Singh was seen taking notes. Then he stood up imperturbable, responding calmly to all the interventions. His speech was firm and statesman-like, much like the personality he has built for himself. After the discussion ended at the Rajya Sabha, the Defense Minister called all the keynote speakers and thanked them.
Cut to Lok Sabha on Friday, the proceedings took a nasty turn after a dispute between the Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and the congressional leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Thakur blamed Jawaharlal Nehru and Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on an economic bill. Chowdhury responded by calling him “gadha (donkey) ”and“Himachal ka chokra (Himachal child) ”.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury appealed to Rajnath Singh to take care of Thakur. After the House suspended the session, Singh approached Chowdhury and tried to calm him down. “He didn’t need to do it, since most politicians don’t bother to do it. But at least it was decent and it was kind of him to approach me, ”said the congressional leader.
When the government refused to have a discussion on the issue of China, saying that it was a delicate situation regarding national security, the opposition wept and cited the example of when Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself allowed discussions on national security issues. It was Rajanth Singh who managed to convince colleagues in the party that he could manage a controlled discussion in the Rajya Sabha and also make the opposition rally.
Many see a Vajpayee in Rajnath Singh. For others, it projects a personality similar to Pranab Mukherjee. In the end, the two managed to convince the opposition.
Rajnath Singh shares a good personal relationship with opposition leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav. In fact, what makes Rajnath Singh easily acceptable to the opposition is the way he conducts himself. Never offensive, without personal spikes and without acrimony. Even during the frankly bitter campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Singh, who ran from Lucknow, was never embroiled in an ugly war of words.
This strategy has also been useful in Parliament; a heavyweight politician in Uttar Pradesh but low-key in the Union cabinet. A man of few words and not aggressive in any of them.
Singh gained political weight after his handling of the discussion on China in Parliament. Clearly, the defense minister is no longer a shy and reticent parliamentarian. As the modern avatar of the warrior Magadh Ajatashatru, Rajnath Singh has managed to expand his presence in Parliament.
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