Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on December 26 at the age of 92, is being fondly remembered as a leader whose legacy transcended political affiliations. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa emphasized that Singh’s contributions to India should not be confined to any political party.
“All the party leaders see Manmohan Singh beyond any party. He was not bound to any party, and he used to think about the progress of the country. He raised the country out of economic crisis and served as the Prime Minister for 10 years. So his name should not be linked to any party,” Sirsa said.
BJP leader Preneet Kaur also paid tribute, recalling Singh as a gentle and polite personality. “It is a huge loss for the whole nation. I was fortunate that I got to work with him. He was a very gentle and polite human being. I came today to pay my respects to a great personality,” Kaur stated.
The family of the late Prime Minister held a ‘Bhog’ of the ‘Akhand Path’ at his residence earlier in the day, commemorating his memory. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi were among the attendees.
Manmohan Singh was cremated with full state honors on December 28 at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi, following Sikh rituals. His ashes were immersed at the Yamuna Ghat near the Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tila Sahib. The family performed traditional Sikh rituals, including Shabad Kirtan, Paath, and Ardas.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid their respects, placing wreaths near Singh’s mortal remains. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute during the cremation ceremony.
Singh’s political career was marked by significant contributions to India’s economic and political landscape. As Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, he initiated landmark economic reforms that transformed India’s economy. Serving as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, Singh’s steady leadership navigated the country through economic challenges and positioned India on the global stage.
After completing his second term in 2014, Singh retired from public life, leaving behind a legacy of progress, economic stability, and international recognition for India. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi as Prime Minister after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections.