Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday described former prime minister Manmohan Singh as one of India’s “most consequential” prime ministers, saying history would remember his contribution despite the relatively low-key style of his leadership. In a signed article published in The Indian Express, Gandhi praised Singh’s integrity and record in public life while drawing a sharp contrast between his tenure and the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi also referred to a prediction Singh made in January 2014, when he had warned that it would be “disastrous for the country” if Narendra Modi became Prime Minister. According to Gandhi, Singh’s assessment is becoming increasingly evident with the passage of time.

Her remarks came amid renewed political discussion over Singh’s legacy, days after the Supreme Court gave the former prime minister a clean chit in a case related to the allocation of coal blocks. The Congress leader said the Supreme Court’s decision brought an end to what she described as one of the most tragic episodes in India’s public discourse. Gandhi characterised the allegations and criticism directed at Singh in connection with the coal allocation controversy as a “witch-hunt” against a leader whose integrity, she argued, had been repeatedly questioned without justification. She said the court’s decision was significant in restoring the record of a prime minister she described as possessing exceptional probity. Singh served as prime minister from 2004 to 2014 and led the United Progressive Alliance government for two consecutive terms.

A former finance minister and economist, he was closely associated with India’s economic reforms and later headed a government that oversaw a period of significant economic and policy developments. His tenure also faced major controversies, including allegations linked to coal block allocations, which became a major political issue during the later years of the UPA government.

Gandhi argued that Singh’s record of integrity stood in contrast to that of the present government. Without limiting her criticism to the coal case, she sought to frame the former prime minister’s legacy around what she described as his personal honesty and commitment to public service. Her comments also reflected the Congress’s continuing effort to defend Singh’s record against political attacks that became prominent during and after his second term as prime minister. Taking a direct swipe at Modi, Gandhi referred to his recent comments about “forgiving” students who had allegedly attacked him.

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She said that if the prime minister was willing to forgive the students, he could perhaps also use the opportunity to “forgive himself” for what she called his “undignified slander” against Singh. The remark added a political dimension to her broader defence of the former prime minister and his record. Singh’s reputation has remained an important subject in Congress’s political narrative, particularly following his death and the continued reassessment of his decade in office. His supporters have long pointed to his economic expertise, administrative experience and personal integrity, while his critics have focused on policy decisions and controversies involving the UPA government. Gandhi’s article sought to reinforce the former interpretation, portraying Singh as a leader whose contribution would ultimately be judged more favourably by history.

The Supreme Court’s clean chit in the coal block allocation case has provided the Congress with an opportunity to revisit some of the criticism directed at Singh during his tenure. Gandhi said the judgment helped close a chapter that had unfairly damaged the reputation of the former prime minister. Her comments suggest that the party sees the court ruling as an important moment in the reassessment of Singh’s public legacy.

Gandhi’s remarks also revive a political debate that has continued since Singh’s tenure ended in 2014. By invoking Singh’s warning about Modi and arguing that it is becoming increasingly self-evident, she directly linked the former prime minister’s legacy with the Congress’s criticism of the current government. At the same time, her defence of Singh focused heavily on personal integrity, presenting his record as one that she believes will ultimately stand the test of history.

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