Congress hoping Manmohan Singh will clear the air on Sanjaya Baru’s book

NEW DELHI: Even as Prime Minister’s media advisor Pankaj Pachauri said on Friday that there’s no need for Manmohan Singh to speak up on the controversy created by the content of his former aide Sanjaya Baru’s book – The Accidental Prime Minister -- which projected him as being constantly undermined by the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, some senior party leaders are hoping that Singh may finally break his silence and clear the air during his next public appearance.
Participating at a Meet The Press organised by the Press Club of India, Pachauri maintained that the PMO, Singh’s family and the Congress party had already made statements on Baru’s book and there was, therefore, “nothing new to say any more on it”. Responding to a question on why Singh was not commenting on the political controversy kicked up by his former press advisor Baru’s book, Pachauri said, “The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has issued two statements relating to this (Baru’s) book.

Even his family has made their viewpoint public. The party he belongs to has made a long and considered statement. I don't think there’s anything new to say." But Congress leaders are still expecting -- if not getting impatient -- to see Singh break his silence and defend Sonia Gandhi from BJP’s attacks following the release of Baru’s book. Ever since the book has been released, Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders have been insinuating that Baru’s book could only be airing the inner feelings of Singh.

Modi went to the extent of telling an election rally that, following the release of the book, he felt that he shouldn’t have criticised Singh as “now it’s clear that mother and father” (read Sonia Gandhi and Rahul) had been creating all the problems. After the book hit the stands and kicked up a political storm last week, the Prime Minister has not attended a single public function. And political circles are also closely watching the PM, wondering whether he will completely skirt the issue or speak out his mind whenever he meets the media or addresses an election rally.

Singh is expected to travel to Assam next week to cast his vote. The Congress leaders feel that his reticence would be construed as an endorsement of Baru’s arguments by the Opposition. But Pachauri’s comment that “nothing new to say any more on it” seems to indicate that Singh may not play ball, and shield Sonia Gandhi from BJP’s attacks.