NEW DELHII: The former Prime .P. Singh, has scotched speculation that he might play a catalytic role in uniting the non-Congress and non BJP Opposition parties a had of next Lok Sabha elections, asserting that he would devote most of his time to pursue his newfound interest in painting.
Asserting that he was no longer available for frontline leadership in the political arena. He said that his role in active politics was over with the appointment of Raj Shekhar, the first person from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to a government job reserved under the Mandal Commission recommendations. He said since the issue led to the fall of his National Front Government in 1990, it vindicated his stand.
In an interview, the former Prime Minister, however, said, he would campaign for the success of the National Front Left Front combine in the coming elections and would also participate in mass agitations on different issues included those related to youth.
Reiterating his stand that he would not contest elections till November 1999, he expressed satisfaction over the fact that the issue of Mandal had been accepted by the people of the country.
This, he said, was evident from the fact that almost all political parties had included the issue of reservation for the OBCs in their agenda.
“We have scored the goal though in the process we may have broken our leg,” he said in an obvious reference 10 the fall of his Government on the issue.
Saying that he had been gradually withdrawing himself from active pol tics for quite sometime now. Singh said he was no longer in the decision making process in the political field.
Drawing a parallel between Mrs. Indira Gandhi and him, V.P. Singh said both of them had faced “severe hostilities” to the issues of Emergency and Mandal, respectively.
While Mrs, Gandhi was still being condemned even after 20 years for imposition of Emergency, he said it was a matter of satisfaction for him that the Mandal issue had been accepted by the people of the country.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 21, 1995
