Showering lavish praises on Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, senior BJP leader Arun Shourie on Saturday said that he was the best Prime Minister that India was yet to have. “It is not just his acceptability across the political spectrum; it is the trust. Nobody is more trusted in Indian politics than Pranab Mukherjee. He is, of course, the keystone of the present government but more importantly, he is the keystone of governance in India,” he added.
Mr Shourie was speaking at a panel discussion titled: “Expectations from the future leader” which was organised by the Indian Statistical Institute. Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and actor Anupam Kher were also present.
Lauding Mr Mukherjee’s time-tested ability as a trouble-shooter, Mr Shourie said that whenever there was any problem, the name which came to mind was that of Mr Mukherjee. “I am sure Pranab Mukherjee is one of the best prime ministers which we are yet to have,” he said amidst thunderous applause.
Possibly inspired by Sourav’s presence on the dias, Mr Mukherjee borrowed a jargon from the world of cricket to describe his long innings in politics. “Although I have occasionally expressed my desire to retire, I am still sticking to the wicket for the past five decades,” he added.
It was not the first time that Mr Mukherjee received such encomiums from a BJP leader. The then Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani leader who was then Leader of the Opposition in Parliament had paid rich tributes to Mr Mukherjee on the flood of the House on February 17, 2009. “Sometimes I think that had Pranab not been there, what would happen to this government. Whenever there is a crisis, he is there. Twenty-five years ago, he presented the budget and he again did so yesterday as it was a crisis situation,” Mr Advani said, while the entire House cheered.
Mr Advani acknowledged that although he had serious ideological and political differences with him, they, however, they did not diminish Mr Mukherjee’s stature in his eyes.
“Ever since I was introduced to Pranab, I have always admitted his ability, his strength and his capability to shoulder whatever responsibility he is given,” he added. Mr Advani fondly recalled that Mr Mukherjee was one year senior to him in Parliament.
“I was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 1970 while he was elected one year before,” he added. Mr Mukherjee was so overwhelmed that he could not say a word but merely folded his hand in gratitude.
Mr Shourie’s statement may trigger a debate. Mr Mukherjee himself had once ruefully admitted that he could not become prime minister because he did not know Hindi. “If you don’t know Hindi, you cannot be a prime minister. There are certain skills that are required for certain work,” he had added.

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Pranab says he is like an antique piece in politics
Kolkata, Jan. 15: Setting aside his serious self, Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday likened himself to an “antique” among the country’s politicians, saying he was sticking to the political wicket for the last five decades.
“I am one of the oldest politicians alive, almost an antique in the political arena and who has been sticking to the wicket for the last five decades occasionally expressing a desire to retire, but still somehow sticking to the wicket,” the 75-year-old Congress veteran said.
Mr Mukherjee was participating in a panel discussion at the Indian Statistical Institute on “Expectations from the Future Leaders”.
BJP leader Arun Shourie, who was among the panelists, showered praise on Mukherjee, saying, “He is one of the best PMs we are yet to have.” Mr Shourie described him as a man of trust and keystone of Indian governance. —PTI