NEW DELHI — Days after the Supreme Court of India quashed trial court summons and upheld the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) clean chit to Dr. Manmohan Singh in the long-running coal block allocation case, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi stated that history will indeed remember the former prime minister as a quiet, gentle, but most consequential leader.

Writing in an opinion piece published in The Indian Express, Gandhi emphasized that the apex court's July 29 verdict formally brought to a close one of the most unjust political narratives in modern Indian history. She described the years-long allegations against Dr. Singh as a coordinated "witch-hunt" orchestrated across political, bureaucratic, media, and civil society spheres.

'Vindicated on Every Count'

The Supreme Court panel pulled up the trial court for rejecting the CBI's closure reports without compelling reasons, effectively closing all criminal proceedings against the late Prime Minister, who passed away on December 27, 2024.

"Today, their bogus crusade has come to its inevitable conclusion of nothingness. Dr. Singh has been vindicated on every count," Gandhi noted, asserting that Dr. Singh’s unblemished record of personal integrity and public accountability stands in stark contrast to the political climate of today.

In a sharp attack on the current administration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi accused the ruling party of systematically weaponizing federal investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI to intimidate and silence opposition figures. She argued that political leaders facing corruption allegations are routinely shielded or given ministerial berths the moment they align with the ruling party.

A Call for Self-Reflection

Taking a direct swipe at Prime Minister Modi, Gandhi recalled his February 2017 remarks in the Rajya Sabha—where he quipped that Dr. Singh alone knew "the art of bathing with a raincoat on"—labeling the comment as one of the lowest points in India's parliamentary history.

Referencing recent public statements where PM Modi spoke of "forgiving" protesting students, Gandhi remarked that the Prime Minister should use this moment to practice self-reflection and apologize for his past "undignified slander" against his predecessor.

The Legacy of UPA's Economic and Social Reforms

Reflecting on the decade-long tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government (2004–2014), Gandhi highlighted major structural achievements under Dr. Singh’s stewardship:

  • Economic Growth: Navigating the global financial crisis of 2008 while driving high growth rates that pulled millions out of poverty and elevated India to middle-income status.

  • Global Standing: Executing the historic Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, which ended decades of nuclear isolation for India.

  • Rights-Based Legislation: Enacting transformative social safety nets, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Forest Rights Act for Adivasi communities, and the National Food Security Act of 2013.

  • Social Inclusion: Expanding reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) across centrally funded higher educational institutions such as IITs and IIMs.

Concluding her tribute, Gandhi noted that while Dr. Singh was not alive to witness his complete legal exoneration, his famous 2014 prediction—that history would be kinder to him than contemporary media and opposition parties had been—has proven prophetic.