Political Leaders Across Party Lines Pay Tribute to the Visionary Economist and Statesman
New Delhi, December 27: India prepares to bid a final farewell to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, with his last rites scheduled for Saturday. An official announcement is expected on Friday, according to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal.
Calling Dr. Singh’s demise a “painful loss”, Venugopal said, “Dr. Manmohan Singh was a real icon of the Congress and the country. His mission and ability to govern the nation was witnessed by everyone.”
Seven Days of Mourning Declared
The Congress Party has canceled all its programs for the next seven days, including the Congress Foundation Day event scheduled for December 28.
The mortal remains of Dr. Singh were brought to his residence at 3 Motilal Nehru Marg late Thursday night from AIIMS, Delhi. His body will be placed for the public to pay their last respects before the final rites.
Leaders Pay Heartfelt Tributes
Several senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi, visited Dr. Singh’s residence to pay their respects.
In a heartfelt message on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh praised Dr. Singh’s contributions, highlighting his transformative legislation in rural employment, education, food security, and the historic Indo-US nuclear agreement.
“Many of the initiatives he took as PM were marketed, branded, and projected as his successor’s contributions. But Dr. Singh never minded and would give his trademark smile,” Ramesh remarked.
Condolences from Across Political Spectrum
Leaders from across the political spectrum expressed their grief, including Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan, Bhagwant Mann, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, and Hemant Soren.
Former Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad called Dr. Singh’s demise “a great loss that can never be forgotten.”
A Legacy of Leadership and Vision
Dr. Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served as India’s Prime Minister for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014. Known as the architect of India’s economic liberalization, he played a pivotal role in shaping modern India’s economic landscape.
Before his tenure as Prime Minister, Dr. Singh served as Finance Minister during the 1991 economic reforms, a period that redefined India’s global economic position.
An Era Comes to an End
Dr. Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for an impressive 33 years in the upper house of Parliament. His statesmanship, economic acumen, and calm leadership style earned him admiration across party lines.
As the nation prepares to bid a final farewell to one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s contributions to India’s growth and governance will remain etched in history.
The country stands united in mourning the loss of a visionary leader, statesman, and economist whose legacy will inspire generations to come. Om Shanti.