Sonia Gandhi Writes Oped Praising Manmohan Singh After Coal Case Verdict

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s record of integrity and accountability will ultimately be recognised by history, following the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the coal block allocation case. In an opinion article published in The Indian Express, Gandhi described Singh as a quiet and gentle leader who had a consequential impact on India’s political, economic and social development. Her remarks came days after the Supreme Court upheld the Central Bureau of Investigation’s closure report in the case involving Singh.

Gandhi referred to Singh’s famous statement at his final press conference as prime minister in January 2014, when he said he believed history would judge him more kindly than contemporary media and opposition parties. She said those words had gained significance after the Supreme Court’s July 29 judgment, which brought an end to a long-running criminal proceeding against the former prime minister. The court set aside a summoning order issued against Singh and formally closed the case against him.

The Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson described the proceedings against Singh as a “witch-hunt” and said he had been subjected to sustained political and public attacks despite his reputation for probity. Gandhi alleged that the campaign against him involved several sections of public life and claimed that the Supreme Court’s ruling had ultimately vindicated Singh. She also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recalling his 2017 Rajya Sabha remark about Singh and saying it represented one of the lowest points in parliamentary discourse.

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Gandhi further contrasted Singh’s record with the functioning of the Narendra Modi government, alleging that investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI had been misused to exert political pressure. She accused the government of treating political opponents differently depending on whether they remained in the Opposition or joined the BJP. Gandhi also argued that attacks on Singh had diverted public attention from what she described as his government’s significant achievements.

Highlighting Singh’s tenure, Gandhi cited strong economic growth, the Right to Education Act, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the National Food Security Act and the Forest Rights Act among the policies that she said had a lasting impact. She also pointed to Singh’s engagement with civil society and Parliament, noting that he held more than 100 unscripted press conferences during his tenure. Gandhi described the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal as another major achievement, crediting Singh’s political courage and sustained efforts for its completion.

Gandhi said allegations questioning Singh’s integrity had increasingly been exposed as baseless and that his tenure was now being recognised as a period of significant economic, political and social advancement. Singh, who died on December 27, 2024, was not alive to witness the Supreme Court’s decision, she noted. Gandhi said his absence was deeply regretted but added that his 2014 prediction about history judging him kindly was becoming increasingly evident. She concluded that Singh would be remembered as a quiet, gentle and highly consequential prime minister.

Also Read: Supreme Court Brings Coal Block Case Against Manmohan Singh To A Close