?Singh is King?, undoubtedly, in a most unassuming manner. Contrary to the milestone achieved and the praise showered on him in the US Senate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a picture of restraint and dispassion on Thursday when news came in that the Indo-US nuclear deal had cleared its final hurdle.
Instead of exhibiting exhilaration and accepting congratulations, Singh this afternoon continued to express ?a bit of concern? over what US President George W Bush may add in his signing statement when the 123 agreement finally would be made into law. With overriding powers, the US president could still include language in the agreement that could prove problematic for India, sources pointed out, especially on fuel supply assurances and conducting a nuclear test.
?He is not jumping with joy or beaming with happiness. Instead, he is consistently worried over what the US President is likely to say,? PMO sources said on Thursday evening, when asked about the Prime Minister?s response to the successful conclusion of the Indo-US agreement, which ends India?s over three-decade long nuclear apartheid, and is certainly to occupy the prime slot in his list of achievements. They also pointed out that the Prime Minister, never in the three years after initiating the agreement with the US, made any comment or remark that the deal was done.
The sources maintained that the Prime Minister did not appear relaxed after returning from 10 days of successful visit to the US and France and went about attending to his regular business. Besides, attending functions related to Gandhi Jayanti, Singh on Thursday also hosted a book release ceremony at his residence.
A consensus man, Singh had virtually staked his government during the summer this year on the nuclear deal when he gave strong signals that either the UPA coalition go ahead with the nuclear deal with the US or he would give up the office. His unyielding stand led to the Left withdrawing support to the UPA, but Singh played a
masterstroke by getting the Samajwadi Party to back
his government.
Alluding to his ?political? side, the sources said the manner in which the nuclear deal was taken forward, clearly showed that the Prime Minister was skillful and adept in managing and manouvering. The way he went about in the most unassuming way, even the most hardened in the game of realpolitic would be envious, they said. The sources said Singh was careful not to assume credit for the deal himself but handing the honor instead to external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee.