We got government off the backs of the people of India, particularly off the backs of India's entrepreneurs. We introduced more competition, both internal competition and external competition. We simplified and rationalized the tax system. We made risk-taking much more attractive.

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.