Q: How do you rate the performance of Dr Manmohan Singh as the PM in last 10 years? Mani: There have been ups and downs and that happens with every government. But some of the changes he has made are paradigm changes.
I'm a socialist. I'm not happy about our moving towards the market. But I know we'll never go back to Nehruvian socialism. We'll remain with this mix. I comfort myself with the thought that Jawahar Lal Nehru said that he is inflexible on democracy but flexible on the ratio between public-private sector. Therefore, maybe if Nehru had been the PM today, he would have adopted more or less the same path on liberalization of the economy that Dr Manmohan Singh has.
I wasn't, at all, happy about our moving into being the natural partner of America. There is a book that has come out by Hussain Haqqani about the US-Pakistan relationship based on some magnificent delusions. And I think some of our strategic relationship with US is based on magnificent illusions of parity. The Americans are not willing to accord us the status of parity which is why congratulations to Manmohan Singh and Salman Khurshid for having really stood up to Americans as no other country has stood up to them over this Devyani Khobragade affair.
Q: Coming to 2014 elections, what political combinations do you see for Congress especially in Tamil Nadu where you are not left with many allies?
Mani: We have known how to fight on our own. Congress will have to survive, whether we fight it alone or in alliance. Our aim in Delhi should be to form a govt on our own. But if we can't then we have to, in a practical sense, see how our democracy can be saved and promoted. That decision has to be taken in May; it doesn't have to be taken today.
Q: Will you be contesting again in 2014 Lok Sabha elections? Mani: Tumhare muh me ghee-shakkar (laughs)…I hope Congress gives me the ticket, I want to fight from my constituency Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu.
