NEW DELHI - One of India's most respected politicians, former prime minister Manmohan Singh has mostly been out of public view in recent years because of his frail health.
But the nonagenarian Congress leader's rare appearance in a wheelchair in Parliament on Monday to vote on a crucial Bill concerning the administrative control of capital New Delhi has won him renewed respect from many individuals, prompting nostalgia for his leadership but also unleashing political bickering over his legacy.
"Dr Manmohan Singh was severely misjudged by this country, he was not only a strong Prime Minister but also a dedicated and dignified leader," said X user Roshan Rai.
While the Congress Party and other opposition politicians gushed with praise for the member of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Parliament) - one even hailing him as a "beacon of integrity" - the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was clearly not impressed.
In a post on X in Hindi, the party described the Congress' decision to have "a former prime minister sitting on a wheelchair late at night in the House in such a state of health and that too just to keep its dishonest alliance alive" as "extremely shameful".
Denne historien er fra August 13, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 13, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WOUNDED ARSENAL ON RED ALERT
Calafiori hurt in Shakhtar win, as Arteta’s concerns mount ahead of Liverpool clash
HIGH KAI FLYING IN MADRID EVENT
Fresh off double win, teenage indoor skydiver hopes to emulate Maeder's model
JAMES DUO CHECK IN FOR FIRST TIME
Lakers’ LeBron, Bronny enter court in 2nd quarter to become NBA’s maiden father-son act
GAMESTONKS RIGHT AT TOP OF HIS GAME AT KL TRIALS
Ex-Kranji Pacific Snoopy also serves notice of her smart form
EL CASTELLO ALL SET FOR SPRING CHAMPION
Trainer Anthony Cummings plots Group path towards Victoria Derby for smart 3yo
'It feels like a watershed moment for AI'
Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis on his Nobel Prize
What 'do no harm' means as temperatures soar
Medical workers are key to adapting to the realities of global warming, but they are not receiving the necessary training.
Why gold is dazzling investors
Financial fears and geopolitical tremors combine to great effect.
'Singapore on steroids;: Dubai deserves more attention
Open to the world, the most populous of the seven emirates that make up the UAE is a trendsetter in Al, fintech and digitalisation.
Ascott to expand apartment hotel business in China via joint venture
The Ascott Limited, a Singapore-headquartered hospitality company, will expand its apartment hotel business in China through a joint venture with Jin Jiang Hotels.
