Advani skips PM’s farewell for Somnath

While Congress leaders led by party president Sonia Gandhi turned up in full strength at the Prime Minister’s house this evening,leaders of other parties in the government were missing. Guests included former PM I K Gujral,SP general secretary Amar Singh and their spouses. Chatterjee came accompanied by his wife Renu Chatterjee.

Earlier in the day,the tension between Advani and the PM was there for everyone to see when they met in the Central Hall of Parliament to mark the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar. Singh and Advani did shake hands,but that was all.

The PM’s attack against Advani — ridiculing him for “weeping in a corner” when Babri was demolished and flying terrorists to Kandahar — as a response to being called the “weakest Prime Minister” has a chequered history.

The war of words started barely weeks after the formation of the UPA-Left government. On August 25,2004,there was a serious rift between the PM and the Opposition (a delegation led by Advani) as the PM refused to accept a memorandum saying that the Parliament was the right forum for debate.

The delegation said that the PM was “discourteous” and rude. The PM’s aides denied the charge saying the PM was upset with repeated disruptions in Parliament and keen that things be discussed on the floor of the House,and not via memos.

In 2007,as part of an interview,the PM again lamented over the nature of personal attacks he claimed the BJP had organized,when he said; “They didn’t believe I would last as Prime Minister and some leaders did havans that I should die on a certain day”. The Opposition received these observations with circumspection,denying any such thing.

The trading of charges came to a head when Advani called the PM “nikamma” (useless) last year,and the PM hit back as he rose to defend his government on the question of the nuclear deal,during the trust vote.

“The Leader of Opposition,Shri L K Advani has chosen to use all manner of abusive adjectives to describe my performance. He has described me as the weakest prime minister,a nikamma PM,and of having devalued the office of PM. To fulfil his ambitions,he has made at least three attempts to topple our government. But on each occasion his astrologers have misled him. This pattern,I am sure will be repeated today. At his ripe old age,I do not expect Shri Advani to change his thinking. But for his sake and India’s sake,I urge him at least to change his astrologers so that he gets more accurate.”

The last day of the outgoing Lok Sabha though brought out a different side to both Manmohan Singh and Advani and what went on the record was pleasant.

On behalf of Singh,this is what Pranab Mukherjee read out: “I would be failing in my duty if I do not thank the Leader of the Opposition,Shri Advaniji in always being constructive as we collectively addressed national challenges in spite of occasional disagreements.”

Before thanking UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi,the PM thanked Advani. In his reply,Advani reciprocated by “praying for the Prime Minister’s good health” and hoping that he returns to his work “sheeghra atisheeghra” (as soon as possible).