New Delhi, December 11 (IANS). Sharmistha Mukherjee shared some stories of her father and former President Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. It was also told that the relationship between Prime Minister Modi and Pranab da was not new but very old.
Sharmistha Mukherjee said that the relationship between my father and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was beyond political boundaries. This is not usually seen.
She says, “It was very public knowledge how Modi ji, as Prime Minister, and Pranab Mukherjee, as President, worked as a team. Both worked in a very democratic manner. This was surprising, because the political and ideological backgrounds of both were completely different. “I understood all these things after reading Baba’s diary and knowing some interesting things from Modi ji.”
She further says, “Once when Modi ji went to meet Baba after becoming the Prime Minister, he touched Baba’s feet and said, “Dada, please guide me like my younger brother.” Baba assured him of full help. Modi ji told me that his relationship with Baba is very old, and it was not just after becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Even earlier, when he was an ordinary RSS worker, he used to come to meet Baba. “They used to meet at North Avenue and South Avenue in Delhi.”
She tells, “Modi ji told me that when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, once Baba had written in his diary that Modi ji was a critic of the Congress government, but whenever he met Baba personally, he would always praise him. Used to touch feet. Baba had also written that he felt respect for Modi ji in a very strange way, although he himself did not know it. What was the reason for this?
She further says, “Another interesting thing is that when Modi ji became the Prime Minister, after meeting Baba he said that it had helped him in understanding his foreign policy. Baba had said that Modi ji had a deep understanding of foreign affairs, and he was quickly able to understand the complex aspects of foreign policy.”
She says, “Baba had written about Modi ji’s working style that he is very professional and focused. Baba had also said that Modi ji came out of state politics and made his mark in national politics, and that was the reason why he got quick understanding in foreign policy and other matters.”
She says, “Another interesting incident was when Baba retired from the post of President for a short time, and Modi ji called him.”
She says, “When Baba received Bharat Ratna, I came to know from a journalist. Modi ji had kept it as a secret information. I later came to know that the Prime Minister had called Baba earlier. But, this was not made public until it was officially announced.”
Sharmistha further said, “It made me understand that the Modi government has really worked in a good and true way, and Prime Minister Modi always showed his respect and affection towards Baba.”
–IANS
SHK/KR
