New Delhi [India], December 28: Bihar Congress President Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Saturday expressed his condolences over the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, remembering him as a leader who embodied simplicity and high thinking. Singh, who served as the Food and Agriculture Minister during Singh’s tenure, shared his personal experience, recalling the former PM’s humility and his ability to take tough decisions, notably during the nuclear deal negotiations.
“I had the opportunity to work with him for five years when I was handling the Food and Agriculture department. He lived a life of simplicity and high thinking. He was very humble, but when he made tough decisions, such as during the nuclear deal, he did so with great conviction,” Akhilesh Prasad Singh told.
Congress leader Rajesh Thakur also paid tribute to the late PM, highlighting his contributions to the nation. “He gave so much to this country, worked tirelessly for nation-building, and balanced the economy,” Thakur said. He also criticized those politicizing the former PM’s legacy, particularly the BJP, for not respecting Singh’s contributions.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described Singh as a visionary leader who always worked for the betterment of the nation, leaving behind a lasting legacy in India’s development.
Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu, along with other key political leaders, paid their respects to Manmohan Singh at Nigam Bodh Ghat, where his last rites were performed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were among those attending the state funeral.
The rituals, performed with full military honors, followed Sikh traditions and included the use of sandalwood sticks. Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday due to age-related health issues, was a key figure in India’s political and economic landscape for decades.
Singh’s political career included transformative roles, such as Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he led significant economic reforms. Serving as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, his tenure was marked by steady leadership through economic crises, as well as his contributions to modernizing the country’s economy. He retired from public life after his second term, with Narendra Modi succeeding him in 2014 following the Congress-led UPA’s electoral defeat.