Pranab Mukherjee: Difference between revisions

{{short description|13th President of India (1935–2020)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name                = Pranab Mukherjee

| office              = 13th [[President of India]]

| caption            =  

| nickname            = Pranab Da <br />Poltuda<ref>{{cite news|url =https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/president-pranab-mukherjee-poltu-ancestral-village-mirati-110888-2012-07-24|title =Pranab is still 'Poltuda' in his ancestral village of Mirati in West Bengal|publisher =India Today|date =24 July 2012|website =indiatoday.in|author =Partha Dasgupta|access-date =31 August 2020|archive-date =1 September 2020|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040858/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/president-pranab-mukherjee-poltu-ancestral-village-mirati-110888-2012-07-24|url-status =live}}</ref>

| predecessor        = [[Pratibha Patil]]

In 2017, Mukherjee decided not to run for [[2017 Indian presidential election|re-election]] and to retire from politics after leaving the presidency due to "health complications relating to old age." His term expired on 25 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/columns/national-scrutiny/sharad-pawar-president-candidate-pranab-mukherjee-ncp.html |title=And the next President is... |author=Sachidananda Murthy |date=27 December 2015 |website=english.manoramaonline.com/home.html |publisher=Manorama Online |access-date=28 April 2016 |archive-date=26 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426112523/http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/columns/national-scrutiny/sharad-pawar-president-candidate-pranab-mukherjee-ncp.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/presidential-election-2017-pranab-mukherjee-retires-in-july-this-is-how-india-elects-its-president-3418668.html|title=Presidential Election 2017: Pranab Mukherjee retires in July, this is how India elects its president|date=2 May 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822223454/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/presidential-election-2017-pranab-mukherjee-retires-in-july-this-is-how-india-elects-its-president-3418668.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/presidential-election-2017-not-in-race-for-another-term-says-pranab-mukherjee-3480729.html|title=Presidential Election 2017: Not in race for another term, says Pranab Mukherjee|date=25 May 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822221645/http://www.firstpost.com/india/presidential-election-2017-not-in-race-for-another-term-says-pranab-mukherjee-3480729.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was succeeded as [[President of India|President]] by [[Ram Nath Kovind]]. In June 2018, Mukherjee became the first former President of India to address a [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) event.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pranab-mukherjee-describes-rss-founder-hedgewar-as-great-son-of-mother-india/articleshow/64496644.cms|title=Pranab Mukherjee describes RSS founder Hedgewar as 'great son of Mother India'|work=The Times of India|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133138/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pranab-mukherjee-describes-rss-founder-hedgewar-as-great-son-of-mother-india/articleshow/64496644.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

His term was noted for his work in improving the finances of the government, which enabled Gandhi to score a political point by returning the last instalment of India's first [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] loan.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|last=Baru|first=Sanjaya|date=22 February 2010|title=Sanjaya Baru: The Pranab Mukherjee Budget|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/sanjaya-baru-the-pranab-mukherjee-budget-110022200019_1.html|access-date=1 September 2020|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629073102/https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/sanjaya-baru-the-pranab-mukherjee-budget-110022200019_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As Finance Minister, Mukherjee signed the letter appointing [[Manmohan Singh]] as [[RBI Governor|Governor]] of the [[Reserve Bank of India]].<ref name="Footsteps of Pranab"/>

In 1979, Mukherjee became Deputy Leader of the INC in the Rajya Sabha, and in 1980, he was appointed Leader of the House.<ref name="GOVT2"/> He was considered the top-ranking Indian cabinet minister and he presided over cabinet meetings in the absence of the Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pranabmukherjee.nic.in/profile.html|title=Pranab Mukherjee|website=pranabmukherjee|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133202/http://pranabmukherjee.nic.in/profile.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Union Cabinet Minister==

===Minister of Defence===

Manmohan Singh appointed Mukherjee as the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] of India when the Congress Party once again came to power in 2004. Mukherjee held the post until 2006. He expanded co-operation with the United States during his tenure. ''[[The Times of India]]'' reported on the [[Wikileaks cables]] release and noted how the U.S. was full of praise for the "uniformed leadership" of [[Indian armed forces]]. Mukherjee in June 2005 had inked the ten-year Indo-US Defence Framework deal.<ref name="TOI">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-06/india/30118195_1_logistics-support-agreement-communication-interoperability-geo-spatial-cooperation|title=US preferred Pranab Mukherjee over AK Antony as defence minister|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=6 September 2011|access-date=12 July 2012|archive-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419112910/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-06/india/30118195_1_logistics-support-agreement-communication-interoperability-geo-spatial-cooperation|url-status=live}}</ref>

Russia and India held their first joint anti-terror war games in [[Rajasthan]] in October 2005, during which Mukherjee and Russian Defence Minister [[Sergei Ivanov]] narrowly escaped injury after a heavy [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] landed several metres from their platform.<ref name="SW">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacewar.com/news/india-05zzs.html|title=Russia Hails Defence Cooperation With India|publisher=Spacewar|date=15 November 2005|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-date=17 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017184900/http://www.spacewar.com/news/india-05zzs.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Russian ministry subsequently declared its hopes to follow up joint military exercises in India with further joint exercises on Russian territory.<ref name="SW"/>

===Minister of External Affairs===

Mukherjee was appointed External Affairs Minister of India in 1995. Under his leadership, India was made "Full Dialogue Partner" of [[ASEAN]] as part of the [[Look East policy (India)|Look East foreign policy]] initiated by Narasimha Rao. Mukherjee left the position in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pranab Mukherjee {{!}} Biography & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pranab-Mukherjee|access-date=1 September 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526171956/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pranab-Mukherjee|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jha|first=Ganganath|date=1 October 2008|title=India's Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN|journal=India Quarterly|language=en|volume=64|issue=4|pages=1–34|doi=10.1177/097492840806400401|s2cid=153913814|issn=0974-9284}}</ref>

===Minister of Finance===

Mukherjee's first stint as the Finance Minister of India was during the [[Indira Gandhi]] government in 1982. He presented his first annual budget in 1982–83. His first term was noted for the work he did to improve the finances of the government and for successfully returning the last instalment of India's first  

[[IMF]] loan.<ref name="auto"/> Mukherjee signed the letter appointing Manmohan Singh as the Governor of the [[Reserve Bank of India]] in 1982.<ref name="Footsteps of Pranab"/> He was accused of patronage practices in the [[Dhirubhai Ambani|Ambani]]–[[Nusli Wadia|Wadia]] industrial feuds.<ref name="Aggarwal 1990">{{Cite book|last=Aggarwal|first=S. K.|title=The Investigative journalism in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0ZUwtiTCKYC&q=Investigative+journalism+in+India|access-date=10 October 2011|year=1990|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-224-0|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133158/https://books.google.com/books?id=m0ZUwtiTCKYC&dq=Investigative+journalism+in+India|url-status=live}}</ref>

He returned to handling the finances of India during the premiership of Narasimha Rao, after being appointed Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pranab Mukherjee: A consensus builder who left an imprint on modern India|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/aug/31/pranab-mukherjee-a-consensus-builder-who-left-an-imprint-on-modern-india-2190729.html|access-date=1 September 2020|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040914/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/aug/31/pranab-mukherjee-a-consensus-builder-who-left-an-imprint-on-modern-india-2190729.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During Mukherjee's tenure of 1991 to 1996, Dr. Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister oversaw many [[Economic liberalisation in India|economic reforms]] to end the [[Licence Raj]] system and help open the Indian economy.<ref name=BBC1>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3725357.stm |title= India's architect of reforms |access-date= 11 December 2008 |last= Biswas |first= Soutik |date= 14 October 2005 |work= BBC News |archive-date= 30 April 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090430013006/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3725357.stm |url-status= live }}</ref>

Mukherjee once again became the Finance Minister of India in 2009. He presented the annual budgets in [[2009 Union budget of India|2009]], [[2010 Union budget of India|2010]], and [[2011 Union budget of India|2011]]. The 2010–11 budget included the country's first explicit target to cut public debt as a proportion of the [[GDP]] and Mukherjee targeted a budget deficit reduction of 4.1% of the GDP in the fiscal year 2012–13, from 6.5% in 2008–09.<ref name=TB/>

He implemented many tax reforms, including scrapping the [[Fringe Benefits Tax (India)|Fringe Benefits Tax]] and the Commodities Transaction Tax.<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 July 2009|title=Fringe benefit tax abolished|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/fringe-benefit-tax-abolished/story-w54pPgAH9TN3SE9ze9fdiI.html|access-date=31 August 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040931/https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/fringe-benefit-tax-abolished/story-w54pPgAH9TN3SE9ze9fdiI.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He implemented the Goods and Services Tax during his tenure.<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=13 April 2017|title=President Pranab Mukherjee gives nod to four supporting Bills on GST|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-pranab-mukherjee-gives-nod-to-four-supporting-legislations-on-gst/article17982848.ece|access-date=31 August 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610130246/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-pranab-mukherjee-gives-nod-to-four-supporting-legislations-on-gst/article17982848.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> These reforms were well received by major corporate executives and economists. The introduction of retrospective taxation, however, has been criticised by some economists.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 October 2017|title=Manmohan & Sonia opposed retrospective tax: Pranab Mukherjee|url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/retrospective-tax-pranab-mukherjee/13673/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040859/https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/retrospective-tax-pranab-mukherjee/13673/|archive-date=1 September 2020|access-date=31 August 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>

Mukherjee expanded funding for several social sector schemes including the [[Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission]]. He also supported budget increases for improving [[literacy in India|literacy]] and health care. He expanded infrastructure programmes such as the [[National Highway Development Programme]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=More Funds for Infrastructure Development, Farmers|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/more-funds-for-infrastructure-development-farmers/662289|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040912/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/more-funds-for-infrastructure-development-farmers/662289|archive-date=1 September 2020|access-date=1 September 2020|website=Outlook India}}</ref> Electricity coverage was also expanded during his tenure. Mukherjee also reaffirmed his commitment to the principle of fiscal prudence as some economists expressed concern about the rising fiscal deficits during his tenure, the highest since 1991. Mukherjee declared the expansion in government spending was only temporary.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Big spender|work=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/news/2009/07/07/big-spender|access-date=1 September 2020|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040901/https://www.economist.com/news/2009/07/07/big-spender|url-status=live}}</ref>

|altstyle= Mr. President

|image2=File:Pranab_Mukherjee-World_Economic_Forum_Annual_Meeting_Davos_2009_crop(2).jpg}}

Mukherjee was nominated as the presidential candidate of the [[United Progressive Alliance]] on 15 June 2012 after considerable political intrigue.<ref>{{cite web|last=Prabhu|first=Chawla|title=Pranab nominated after Mulayam-Sonia secret meet|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pranab-nominated-after-mulayamsonia-secret-meet/266362-37-64.html|access-date=4 July 2012|archive-date=19 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619091318/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pranab-nominated-after-mulayamsonia-secret-meet/266362-37-64.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/hunt-begins-for-head-of-state.html|title=Hunt begins for head of state|date=3 January 2012|work=Yahoo News India|access-date=29 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025031731/https://in.news.yahoo.com/hunt-begins-for-head-of-state.html|archive-date=25 October 2014}}</ref> The elections were scheduled to be conducted on 19 July 2012 and the results were expected to be announced on 22 July 2012.  The nominee of the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) was [[P. A. Sangma]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pranab Mukherjee, Sangma final candidates for Prez polls|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pranab-mukherjee-sangma-final-candidates-for-prez-polls_1710719|access-date=4 July 2012|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|date=4 July 2012|archive-date=6 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706140153/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pranab-mukherjee-sangma-final-candidates-for-prez-polls_1710719|url-status=live}}</ref> To file his nomination for the presidential poll on 28 June, Mukherjee resigned from the government on 26 June 2012.<ref name="NDTV2"/>

Mukherjee was sworn in by the [[Chief Justice of India]] on 25 July 2012,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3681618.ece?homepage=true | title=Pranab Mukherjee sworn-in 13th President | date=25 July 2012 | work=The Hindu | first=Smita | last=Gupta | location=Chennai, India | access-date=25 July 2012 | archive-date=31 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133149/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pranab-lays-stress-on-economic-equity/article3681618.ece?homepage=true | url-status=live }}</ref> becoming the first [[Bengali people|Bengali]] to hold the post of President of India.<ref name="zee news2"/> After being administered the oath of office, he stated that we are in the midst of a fourth world war of terror (the third was the Cold war) and what minutes of peace can achieve cannot be achieved in many years of war.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3682516.ece?homepage=true | title= Fight against terrorism is 4th World War: Pranab | date= 25 July 2012 | work= The Hindu | location= Chennai, India | access-date= 25 July 2012 | archive-date= 31 August 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133209/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fight-against-terrorism-is-4th-world-war-pranab/article3682516.ece?homepage=true | url-status= live }}</ref>

Congress President [[Sonia Gandhi]] and Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] both congratulated Mukherjee on his election as president.<ref name="Zee News 3">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/zee-exclusive/pm-sonia-congratulate-india-s-new-president-pranab-mukherjee_788999.html|title=PM, Sonia congratulate India's new President Pranab Mukherjee|publisher=Zee News|date=22 July 2012|access-date=1 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725170043/http://zeenews.india.com/news/zee-exclusive/pm-sonia-congratulate-india-s-new-president-pranab-mukherjee_788999.html|archive-date=25 July 2012}}</ref> Former Communist leader [[Somnath Chatterjee]] termed Mukherjee as one of "the best parliamentarians and statesmen of India" and said the country "has got the most able man for the top job".<ref name="Zee News 4">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/zee-exclusive/india-has-got-a-very-able-president-somnath_789094.html|title=India has got a very able president: Somnath|publisher=Zee News|date=22 July 2012|access-date=1 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725170012/http://zeenews.india.com/news/zee-exclusive/india-has-got-a-very-able-president-somnath_789094.html|archive-date=25 July 2012}}</ref> Opposition leader [[Sharad Yadav]] declared "the nation needed a president like Pranab Mukherjee".<ref name="Zee News 5">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/india-needs-pranab-as-president-sharad-yadav_789014.html|title=India needs Pranab as president: Sharad Yadav|publisher=Zee News|date=22 July 2012|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133218/https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/india-needs-pranab-as-president-sharad-yadav_789014.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Delhi Chief Minister [[Sheila Dikshit]] commented and said Mukherjee will be "one of the wisest presidents". She further marvelled at the fact that parties in the opposition ranks supported Mukherjee. "Even the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] broke up and wanted to vote for the president to be Pranab Mukherjee".<ref name="Zee News 6">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pranab-mukherjee-will-be-a-wise-president-dikshit_789008.html|title=Pranab Mukherjee will be a wise president: Dikshit|publisher=Zee News|date=22 July 2012|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133150/https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pranab-mukherjee-will-be-a-wise-president-dikshit_789008.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) was reportedly "shocked" and "upset" at the cross-voting for Mukherjee by its legislative members.<ref name="Zee News 7">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/prez-poll-bjp-miffed-over-cross-voting_789108.html|title=Prez poll: BJP miffed over cross-voting|publisher=Zee News|date=22 July 2012|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133152/https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/prez-poll-bjp-miffed-over-cross-voting_789108.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, BJP party president [[Nitin Gadkari]] congratulated Mukherjee and said "I extend my hearty congratulations to Pranab Mukherjee on his election today as the new President of India". Gadkari further declared "I am sure that the country will make further development and progress. I wish him all success and a bright future".<ref name="Zee News 8">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/nitin-gadkari-congratulates-pranab-mukherjee_789087.html|title=Nitin Gadkari congratulates Pranab Mukherjee|publisher=Zee News|date=22 July 2012|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133148/https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/nitin-gadkari-congratulates-pranab-mukherjee_789087.html|url-status=live}}</ref>