– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
Bengaluru: Senior IAS officer Luthfulla Khan Atheeq, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, reflected on his experiences working with former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at an event titled Legacy of Dr. Manmohan Singh: The Present and Future of India, held at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru on Friday.
Sharing anecdotes from his tenure at the Prime Minister’s Office between 2007 and 2012, Atheeq lauded Singh as a visionary leader and a paragon of humility.
“Singh’s leadership was marked by intellectual rigor, dignity, and evidence-based policymaking. He demanded meticulous preparation and respect for institutional processes, refusing to bypass ministerial autonomy even when expedient,” Atheeq noted.
Atheeq recalled Singh’s unwavering composure in high-pressure situations, his insistence on well-reasoned policies, and his respect for diplomacy, citing a firm stand during bilateral talks with the Maldives.
Speaking on the occasion renowned political analyst Yogendra Yadav said many of Manmohan Singh’s qualities are now magnified by the person who succeeded him. Being humble and honest. There is a special place for him in the minds of Indians, he said. A place for humanity, humility and honesty, in a way Lal Bahadur Shastri had gained. Yadav further said Singh’s respect for Opposition is a known fact, he used to tolerate and respect even those who disagree with him. Elaborating his point, Yadav said the students of JNU had decided to oppose Manmohan Singh during his visit. The message from PMO was that no action should be taken against the students.
