PM bows out, says tenure an ‘ open book’
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday chaired the last meeting of the Union Cabinet and took the decision to recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha. This has now drawn curtains on the term of the 15th Lok Sabha, which will go down in history as the most disrupted and wasted in Independent India. The recommendation was then handed over to President Pranab Mukherjee.
Following the Cabinet meeting, Dr Singh, who helmed the government for 10 eventful years, bowed out of the Prime Minister’s Office, claiming that he had tried to do his best in serving the country and his tenure was an “open book”.
In a televised address to the nation, the Prime Minister, while bidding adieu, said the judgment delivered by the people in the elections should be respected by all and wished the incoming government every success.
“I address you today for the last time as Prime Minister of India. Ten years ago, when I was entrusted with this responsibility, I entered upon it with diligence as my tool, truth as my beacon and a prayer that I might always do the right thing,” Dr Singh said in his address.
Caretaker Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is said to have completed packing from the 7 Race Race Course, and is all set to move to his new residence at 3 Motilal Nehru Marg.
Final touches were being made at the new accommodation which is undergoing renovation and walls being white washed. The elite Special Protection Group ( SPG) has taken charge of the security at the 3 Motilal Nehru Marg which was the residence of the former CM Sheila Dikshit.
Even before the outgoing PM vacates his sprawling bungalow house, preparations were in full swing at the 7 RCR to welcome the new saffron Prime Minister.
“he full- fledged renovation work has not started as yet but the whitewash and painting of the some parts of the 7 RCR has begun as most of the cartons and movable items which had belonged to Dr Singh have been taken to his new house. These are small repairs which were due. If major work is required we will look into it, otherwise the house will be ready for to move in for the next Prime Minster,” said a senior official in the urban development ministry.
The senior officials in the ministry also told this newspaper that there has been no specific request from the BJP cadre or the close aides of the Prime Minister- elect Narendra Modi, for his new house.
“We haven’t received any requests right now, but I think after the outgoing PM vacates 7 RCR there might be some requests for renovation or alterations.”
The caretaker PM was to vacate the house before May 16, due to minor repair work the 3 Moti Lal Nehru Marg bungalow was not completely ready.
However, officials in the urban development ministry have indicated that the house will be ready for the outgoing PM in a day or two. Dr Singh is expected to move to the new bungalow before the swearing in ceremony of Mr Modi. “The just- concluded elections have deepened the foundations of our democratic polity,” said Manmohan Singh as he chaired the last meeting of the Union Cabinet.
The 81- year- old economist, credited with playing a key role in ushering in economic reforms in the 1990s, said, “... This great land of ours where I, an underprivileged child of the Partition, was empowered enough to rise and occupy high office. It is both a debt that I will never be able to repay and a decoration that I will always wear with pride... As I leave office, my abiding memory will be the love and kindness that I have always received from you.”
Dr Singh later drove to Rashtrapati Bhavan from his official residence at 7, Race Course Road to submit the resignation of his council of ministers to the President.
Mr Mukherjee accepted his resignation.