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History will be kind to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

BAREILLY: From a fancy Bose music system to a glittering Piaget ladies wrist watch, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh took home some 101 unique pieces of gift items that were given to him by heads of states whose countries he visited in his official capacity, an RTI query has revealed. The government has, however, refused to share information about others things like details of Singh's pay and perks, his parting comments and observations before demitting office or the names of countries that gave the presents.The applicant, Mohammad Khalid Jilani, a lawyer from Bareilly, had filed the RTI query with the office of the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) at the Prime Minister's Office seeking information on three points — the gifts, mementoes and trophies Singh brought home, what he said before stepping down as PM and what he earned in the 10 years that he led the country.The CPIO explained that the names of countries or the sources of gifts cannot be disclosed in the light of the CIC's order No CIC/AD/C/2009/000802 dated December 21, 2009 (available on the CIC website). The gifts have been retained by Dr Manmohan Singh as permitted under the Foreign Contribution (Acceptance or Retention of Gifts or Presentations) Regulations 1978 and Foreign Contribution (Acceptance or Retention of Gifts or Presentations) Rules 2012.Responding on behalf of the PMO, assistant secretary and central public information officer (CPIO) Syed Ikram Rizvi in his letter dated July 9, 2014 said that Singh was entitled to salary and perks as per provisions of the amended Pay and Perks Act for ministers 1952. He added that no information was available regarding the comments and observations made by Singh as he left office.(PM Narendra Modi and former PM Manmohan Singh at the inauguration of newly created museum at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.)On the other hand, in response to his request for details of gifts and other items, CPIO, Ministry of External Affairs, Rajesh Kapoor via a letter dated June 23, 2014, furnished a list of 101 items ranging from a Bose sound system valued at around Rs 20,000 to one gold-plated Piaget ladies wrist watch worth Rs 35,000 as well as a carpet priced at Rs 30,000.Apart from these, the PM's memorabilia included crockery, decorative pieces, fine glass items, gold and silver-plated vessels, replicas, carpet, jewellery pieces, paintings, ceramic and porcelain artwork and others things ranging from as little as Rs 300 to Rs 35,000, the CPIO has said.