New Delhi [India], December 27: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and his wife, Sudesh Dhankar, paid their final respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence in Delhi on Friday. The mortal remains of the late former PM are currently kept at his residence, with the national flag draped over the bier. Sources confirmed that his last rites will be performed with full state honours.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also visited the residence to offer their tributes to Singh, who passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions at AIIMS, Delhi.
In his condolence message, Kharge expressed, “With the passing of Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His economic liberalization policy and rights-based welfare approach transformed the lives of millions, creating a middle class and lifting many out of poverty. I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual, and a humble soul who embodied India’s aspirations and rose through the ranks with unwavering dedication. I am proud to have served alongside him in his Cabinet as Labour Minister, Railway Minister, and Social Welfare Minister. His immense contributions to nation-building will forever be etched in history.”
Singh, who played a key role in India’s 1991 economic liberalization reforms as Finance Minister, will be cremated near Rajghat, the site where the last rites of former Prime Ministers are held.
Leaders from across the political spectrum have expressed their sorrow at the passing of Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences on Thursday night, stating that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders.
Born on September 26, 1932, Manmohan Singh had an illustrious career. In addition to being an economist, he served as the Reserve Bank of India Governor from 1982 to 1985. Singh was India’s 13th Prime Minister, holding office from 2004 to 2014, and was the longest-serving PM after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. His tenure was marked by transformative reforms, including the introduction of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which improved government transparency.
Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years.