Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri expressed profound grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, describing him as the “architect of economic reforms” and a “stalwart statesman.”
Key Statements by Hardeep Singh Puri
“The passing away of the former PM is a great loss. He was a great statesman, a stalwart. I had the privilege of knowing him, nearly for 50 years,” Puri said.
Highlighting Singh’s contributions, he added:
“He will be remembered for many things – he was the architect of the economic reforms along with PV Narasimha Rao ji. He was able to navigate the economy when it was facing many challenges. Initially, it was a balance of payment crisis… When he saw those difficulties, economic reforms were carried out – which formed the basis of growth which came later.”
Puri also emphasized Singh’s impact on foreign policy:
“On the foreign policy front, the India-US relationship moved from one of a history of hesitation to the basis of a strategic partnership. There was so much opposition to the Nuclear Deal, but it was Manmohan Singh’s resolve and determination which ensured that the deal went through.”
Manmohan Singh: A Legacy of Leadership and Reform
- Born: September 26, 1932.
- Roles Held:
- Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982-1985).
- Finance Minister of India (1991-1996).
- Prime Minister of India (2004-2014).
- Key Contributions:
- Ushered in economic liberalization in 1991 as Finance Minister under PV Narasimha Rao’s leadership, addressing the balance of payments crisis and laying the foundation for sustained economic growth.
- Instrumental in introducing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Right to Information Act (RTI) during his tenure as Prime Minister.
- Strengthened India’s strategic partnerships globally, particularly with the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement.
Manmohan Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, having served for 33 years.