Giani Zail Singh citations (18 citations)

Giani Zail Singh: 18 citations 0 J'aime

Giani Zail Singh: Citations en anglais

“His humble origins as well his family’s background of being artisans of previous generations meant that he grew up with a healthy respect for work done with one’s hands. He learned to stitch clothes, crush stones, plough fields, lay roads and dig wells, understanding the needs and aspirations of the common man like few others have done in childhood.”

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Zail Singh

Source: First among equals President of India, p. 69.

“All I could do was to ask the prime minister of the country not to allow the blood of innocents be spilled for the crime committed by two misguided security men.”

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Zail Singh

When Indira Gandhi was assassinated and riots broke out in Delhi and other parts of the country, his pleas to control the situation did not result in positive response from Rajiv Gandhi.
Source: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure."

“The imperative need of the hour is to visualize the grave dangers not only to our cherished political and social system, but to the very foundation of our values, if there is not greater discipline in national life…Undoubtedly, the nation has registered progress, especially during the last two or three years, but we must accelerate the pace and increase the momentum. We need vigour and the will to rekindle the moral timbre to channelize our energies for constructive purposes. We must eschew communal frenzy…”

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Zail Singh

His first speech on assuming charge as President of India, p. 170.
Presidents of India, 1950-2003

“No one actually brought me any money. But there were many commitments made…Chandraswami said he knows some Sultan. He wanted me to contest for the second time. Somehow, this fellow had a dislike for Rajiv perhaps because Rajiv refused to encourage him.”

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Zail Singh

When it was rumored that he was thinking of contesting for Presidential election for a second term. In: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure."

“At one stage, Venkataraman had agreed to become prime minister but he never told me this directly…. Once the news of his being in touch with the dissidents was leaked out, he was offered the presidency and that was the end of it.”

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Zail Singh

On being asked if R. Venkataraman showed any interest in becoming prime minister. In: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure".

“I asked Rajiv to be frank. I had no love for office or power. I could walk out any time. I was like a sojourner in an inn.”

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Zail Singh

When there were rumours that there were proposals under consideration by Rajiv Gandhi and his cronies to either send him back to Punjab as Chief Minister or Impeach him as President, in: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure."

“Towards the end of May 1984, Indira Gandhi mentioned nonchalantly that some people had suggested to her to send the police into the golden temple complex to flush out militants entrenched therein, but he was not exactly convinced on this course as it was likely to have an unfavorable fall out. But at the same time, she said she could not see any alternative.”

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Zail Singh

Source: Presidents of India, 1950-2003, p. 172.

“Dissent was not a crime but the opposition must appreciate the good actions of the government. Politicians and politics without principles is poison. Casteism, regional chauvinism, communalism and the custom of dowry were the greatest enemy of welfare and progress of the country.”

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Zail Singh

Source: Presidents of India, 1950-2003, p. 167.

“I seriously pondered over Mrs Gandhi’s thinking. I told her that this course would not be proper, as it would have serious repercussions. The entry of police into the complex was bound to inflame the public mind. Plausible alternatives could definitely be considered. She positively gave me an impression that she agreed to what I said. I tried my best to persuade her not to take any provocative step, but to adopt subtle methods to dislodge the armed men from religious places. Reflecting over this suggestion, she said that she would certainly apply her mind to other means, but did not disclose how her mind was working.”

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Zail Singh

Source: Presidents of India, 1950-2003, p. 172.

“In anguish, I asked the prime minister what our intelligence agencies were doing all these months when the arms build-up was going on. And why action had not been taken to apprehend Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the extremist leader. I asked her if any police officer had been taken to task for negligence of duty in allowing terrorists to smuggle arms into the temple [Golden temple, Amritsar] for almost two years. She had obviously no plausible answer. With a distant look in her eyes, she replied feebly that it was the duty of the Punjab government to take care of these aspects.”

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Zail Singh

Source: K.R. Sundar Rajan Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Presidential-Years/202610, Outlook India Magazine, 4 December 1996.

“Had he as supreme commander resigned at that time, there would have been chaos and Sikhs would have suffered immensely. It was because of his decision that Sikhs could become army heads and PM now.”

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Zail Singh

Giani Zail Singh's daughter [Dr. Gurdeep Kaur] says PM, govt ignored his pleas for help

“In the first 48 to 72 hours, no one including the Prime Minister turned up at Rashtrapati Bhavan to brief the President as is the convention even now in India.”

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Zail Singh

Giani Zail Singh's daughter [Dr. Gurdeep Kaur] says PM, govt ignored his pleas for help

“He was a very strong man and he could fight his own battles, but the Operation Bluestar was one that shook him and brought tears to his eyes. Four days after Operation Bluestar, when he visited Golden Temple and Akal Takhat Sahib, he came back devastated and in deep anguish. He was shaken by the damage caused to the sanctum sanctorum.”

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Zail Singh

Giani Zail Singh's daughter [Dr. Gurdeep Kaur] says PM, govt ignored his pleas for help

“His entire personality commanded respect by its example of self-reliance and resolute determination, enabling him to carve a solid reputation for himself in public life.”

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Zail Singh

Source: First among equals President of India, p. 70.

“After succeeding his mother, Rajiv Gandhi asked K. K. Tewary, a Congress MP, to make the reckless charge on the floor of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.”

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Zail Singh

Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure

“He claimed that even when he was the Union home minister, Indira Gandhi had been hesitant to discuss Punjab affairs with him and had given a free hand to Chief Minister Darbara Singh. The two had always been at daggers drawn.”

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Zail Singh

Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure

“I am not in the habit of making forecasts; but when I do I am usually right. I forecast that he will be the most popular President that India had so far. He is first Sikh, the first Punjabi, and the first person belonging to the backward classes to occupy Rashtrapathi Bhavan.”

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Zail Singh

Khushwant Singh in: Janak Raj Jai "Presidents of India 1950-2003", p. 169.

“A veteran of the Indian independence movement against Britain, he was personally popular for his earthy humor and political skills.”

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Zail Singh

Sanjoy Hazarika, in: Zail Singh, 78, First Sikh To Hold India's Presidency http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/26/obituaries/zail-singh-78-first-sikh-to-hold-india-s-presidency.html, The New York Times, 26 December 1994.