Let me say that I think the economic history of the last 150 years clearly shows that if you want to industrialize a country in a short period, let us say 20 years, and you don't have a well-developed private sector, entrepreneurial class, then central planning is important.

She propounded the left wing interpretation of Keynes maintaining that the state has to play more of a role if you really want to combine development with social equity. A renowned economist he is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term and the first Sikh to hold the office. She questioned me a great deal and made me think the unthinkable.

Although India's economy grew rapidly under UPA I its security was threatened by several terrorist incidents (culminating in the 2008 Mumbai attacks) and a growing Maoist insurgency. In 2008 opposition to a historic civil nuclear agreement with the United States nearly caused Singh's government to fall after Left Front parties withdrew their support. In 2004 when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power its chairperson Sonia Gandhi unexpectedly relinquiManmohan Singhd the premiership to Manmohan Singh.