PM must be a leader, not just a reader, writes Arun Jaitley

Jaitley said that the Prime Minister is the key political executive of the country and must “command both moral and political authority”.

”Prime Minister is the face of Indian democracy. His opinion shapes policy. He provides leadership. People look up to him for solutions. A Prime Minister cannot be low-key. He must arouse confidence in people. He must appear confident about offering solutions. He must be a top mass leader of the
ruling coalition,” the BJP leader said.

In an interaction with reporters at New Delhi yesterday, Prime Minister's Communications Adviser, Pankaj Pachauri had said that economic data shows unprecedented development in the last decade which would have been impossible if Manmohan Singh had been “weak”, countering the damaging claims made by Baru.

Jaitley said that a Prime Minister must be communicative. Making a reference to US President Barack Obama, who during his visit to India earlier, had delivered several important speeches including one in the Central Hall of Parliament and “impressed” one and all.