Washington Post criticism: Would PM’s silence have been his saving grace? -Governance Now

Washington Post criticism: Would PM’s silence have been his saving grace?

GN Bureau | September 6, 2012

When the entire opposition tore into PM Manmohan Singh’s claims of innocence in coal block allocations, all he had to say was:

Hazaaron Jawabon Se Acchi Hai Meri Khamoshi, Na Jaane Kitne Sawaalon Ki Aabru Rakhe.

However, the PMO was prompt in shooting off an angry letter to the US newspaper after it carried a front page article titled “India’s ‘silent’ prime minister becomes a tragic figure” (the article can be read here).

The PMO’s letter claimed that the story was one-sided. Simon Denyer, author of the article and WP’s India bureau chief, replied to the letter point by point, refuting all the charges and standing by his story. The PMO’s letter and Denyer’s response can be read here.

This is not the first time PM has been criticised in world media. It is just another in a series. The offence taken by the PMO is both pointless and immature.

Do you think the PM’s silence would have been his saving grace?

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