Pranab Mukherjee's daughter said- My father was not a sycophant
That's why Rajiv Gandhi did not include him in the cabinet; Had a good tuning with PM Modi. Former President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee has said that her father was not a flatterer, that is why Rajiv Gandhi did not include him in his cabinet. He said that his father used to say that the work done during the tenure of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the golden period of his political life. He also told that while he was the President, his father and PM Narendra Modi had worked like a team.
Bhavika Nandwana
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On Monday, Sharmistha launched the book written on her father - 'Pranab My Father: A Daughter Remembers'. During this time he told these things. According to Sharmistha, she has written this book on the basis of the things written in her father's diaries. There is very little information related to Rahul Gandhi in this book.
Baba was angry when Rahul tore the copy of the ordinance.
Sharmistha expressed her father's views regarding Rahul Gandhi. He told that his father was against the ordinance, the copy of which was torn by Rahul Gandhi in a press conference in September 2013. Sharmistha said that it was I who had told her the news of the ordinance being torn. He was very angry. His father said that this should have been discussed in Parliament.
Democracy means being able to communicate openly
In a conversation with former bureaucrat Pawan K Verma on this book, Sharmistha told that when her father went to an RSS event, he had protested. Sharmistha said that I did not talk to Baba for three-four days. One day his father said that I am not justifying my going to this event, but the country is justifying it. Baba believed that democracy means being able to communicate openly.
Baba was most loyal to Indira ji
Regarding her father's tenure with Indira Gandhi, Sharmistha said that my father used to say that the work done with Indira Gandhi was the golden period of his political life. Indiraji kept an eye on Baba. If there was any person to whom my father was loyal, it was Indira ji and no one else. Baba also did not rise in Indiraji's cabinet within a day, he worked very hard, which Indiraji saw and was impressed by.
The real bond between the two was formed after the Emergency. My father stood by Indiraji in every situation. At that time many veterans had left him. Sharmistha said that her father used to say that Indira ji knew that she had made a mistake by imposing emergency. If I had political understanding at that time, I would have organized a political meeting between JP and Indira Gandhi.
'Rajiv did good by not taking me into the cabinet'
Denied reports of tension between his father and Rajiv Gandhi after Indira Gandhi's assassination as false. Sharmistha said that Baba used to say that these false things were spread so that misunderstanding could be created between him and Rajiv Gandhi. The reason behind the lack of trust was Baba's strong image and habit of not flattering. Baba used to say that Rajiv took the right step by not taking me into the cabinet because I am a strong man.
Sharmistha's claim in the book - Rahul's office does not know AM-PM, what will PMO handle?
Sharmistha wrote in this book that once Pranab had told that Rahul's office does not know AM (time from 12 noon to 12 noon) and PM (time from 12 noon to 12 midnight). Will he ever be able to handle the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)?
According to Sharmistha, her father had also told that Rahul Gandhi did not come to many programs of All India Congress Committee (AICC). Don't know why this happened. Sharmistha has mentioned her father's critical comments about Rahul and his family.
