As the UPA’s Left allies march along the east coast slamming the government’s “subservience” to the United States and have pushed the government to the brink with their opposition to the nuclear deal, came another reality check from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today: “Far too much of political discourse is obsessed with the past and ignorant about the future.”

Speaking at the release of a book in honour of Balram Jakhar, he said, “Far too much of our political life is focused on the here and now. Far too much of political discourse is obsessed with the past and ignorant about the future. We need people who can think into the future and look at the challenges of tomorrow and take the country forward.

“If we remain divided, defensive, disruptive in our discourse, our children and our grandchildren will not forgive us. They will find us wanting in the scale of history for not having had the courage to grapple with the real challenges of our time.”

The Prime Minister said this was India’s moment to make its tryst with destiny.

“The world is looking at India with renewed hope, as it did in the first decade after Independence.

“This is, I believe, India’s moment, let us not dither; let us not shy away in fear of some ghosts in our mind so that India may truly make its tryst with destiny,” Singh said.

The book, Abhinandan Granth — Kalpavraksh, was released by President Pratibha Patil.