Pranab Mukherjee called Modi visits a ‘political adda’… it was marked with relaxed body language and laughter, recalls daughter

Saying that Pranab and Modi “famously” got along, Sharmistha, who contested and lost Assembly elections from Delhi on a Congress ticket in 2015, and claims to be “retired” from active politics, writes that her father saw in the PM the likeness of his political mentor, former PM Indira Gandhi, despite their “two very different political” ideologies.

Sharmistha’s book is based on Pranab’s diaries, which he maintained from his humble beginnings right up to holding the highest office of the country, as well as on his published work and her conversations with him. Published by Rupa Publications, it is scheduled to be launched next week.

Sharmistha writes that following the defeat of the UPA-II government, Pranab was also worried about what might follow. Even as he swore in Modi as PM, she says, Pranab wrote: ‘We shall have to see how this new man [Modi] emerges. Stability of the govt. is assured, but what about social cohesion? I am really worried.’

As per the diary, Pranab later went on to note many of Modi’s qualities. “’We had discussions on various issues. He told me that he valued my advice and I told him that he will get my full cooperation… It is quite clear that… he has clarity in his thoughts and has a professional approach to statecraft… feels the pulse of the people very strongly… He wants to learn and does not pretend that he is ‘Mr Know all’… As a hardcore RSS man, he is fiercely patriotic and nationalist’,” the book quotes Pranab as writing.

In an older diary entry, dating back to August 18, 2012, Pranab writes about meeting Modi for the first time while he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

“’Narendra Modi [CM Gujarat] came to see me. He is a bitter critic of Congress and the govt. but seems to have a strange soft corner for me. In the meetings of CMs/NDC (National Development Council), I sharply reacted to his comments, and he also retorted back sharply. But whenever he meets me personally, he always touches my feet and tells me that it gives him pleasure to do so. I don’t know the reason for it’,” Pranab wrote in the diary, as per the book.

According to Sharmistha, her father and the PM also kept bumping into each other during morning walks in Delhi’s VIP enclave going further back.

“… PM Modi personally told me about his practice of touching Pranab’s feet. He shared that he had known Pranab for a long time… Modi would frequently visit Delhi for organizational duties and would stay in the North/South Avenue area. He would occasionally meet Pranab during his morning walks…,” she writes. “… Pranab always spoke kindly to him, and Modi would always show respect by touching his feet.”

Sharmistha says that after Pranab stepped down as President too, PM Modi visited him a few times, and she observed “a strong personal chemistry between the two leaders”. “The relaxed body language and the sound of laughter conveyed the same. After each visit, I would ask my father about the nature of their discussions. Each time, his response was the same – ‘a political adda (informal discussions)’. This was confirmed by his diaries,” she writes.

However, Sharmistha writes, Pranab was dismayed at the “De-Nehrufication” of history after the NDA came to power. ‘… For the first time in thirty years, there is no government program for Indira Gandhi. Modi Govt’s program of ‘De-Nehrufication’ has begun. If they think they can erase Nehru-Indira-Rajiv from history, they are mistaken,’” she quotes a diary entry.

Sharmistha also writes about the PM visiting Pranab while he was the President following the sudden announcement of demonetisation, which drew criticism from the Opposition. “… The PM requested Pranab’s endorsement of the decision, to which Pranab agreed and expressed his support through a tweet. However, he raised certain concerns with the PM regarding the availability of adequate currency notes for exchange and its impact on the economy.”

According to Sharmistha, Pranab feared that it would “undermine the trust people had in the currency and the banking system”. Quoting his diary entries, she writes, “… On 18 November, 2016, Pranab called the PM. He wrote: I raised my concerns about… change of decision altering amount to be withdrawn within a week… peoples’ faith in the credibility of the currency system… On 21 December, the PM came to meet him again. Pranab noted… ‘This is the third visit since he announced demonetization. I discussed with him the issues of keeping people’s confidence intact on the currency system, and (that) govt. banking system should not be shaken…I advised him to make a broadcast to the nation on measures being taken… It was a fruitful discussion’,” she notes.

In 2019, Pranab was awarded Bharat Ratna by the Modi government along with Nanaji Deshmukh and Bhupen Hazarika. PM Modi then tweeted to hail the former President, saying “Pranab da is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna.”