LIVE | India bids farewell to Manmohan Singh; Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi govt
Considered the architect of India's economic reforms, Singh served as the prime minister for 10 years between 2004 and 2014
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms and a consensus builder in the rough world of politics, was laid to rest with full state honours at Delhi's Nighambodh Ghat on Saturday (December 28).
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were prominent among those who paid last respects to the departed leader before his last rites.
The procession carrying Singh's mortal remains reached the crematorium at around 11.30 pm.
Later, Rahul attacked the Narendra Modi government for "insulting" Manmohan Singh over the venue for his last rites.
"The great son of Mother India and the first Prime Minister of the Sikh community, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji has been totally insulted by the present government by performing his last rites today at the Nigambodh Ghat. He was the Prime Minister of India for a decade, during his tenure the country became an economic superpower and his policies are still the support of the poor and backward classes of the country," Rahul wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account in Hindi.
"Till date, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites were performed at authorized burial sites so that every person could have the last darshan and pay homage without any inconvenience. Dr. Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community," he added.
Earlier, the final journey of Singh began from the AICC headquarters on Saturday morning after Congress leaders paid homage to their departed leader.
The flower-bedecked vehicle carrying the mortal remains of Singh left the Congress headquarters in a procession amid chants of "Manmohan Singh amar rahe".
A large number of Congress workers and leaders along with hundreds of Singh's well-wishers walked along as "Jab tak suraj chand rahega, tab tak tera naam rahega" slogans rent the air.
Former Congress chief and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also accompanied the procession alongside Singh's relatives.
Singh's mortal remains were taken to the AICC headquarters from his residence on 3, Motilal Nehru Road a little before 9 AM.
The mortal remains were kept there for about an hour, with several top Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, paying their last respects, among others.
Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur and one of their daughters also laid a wreath on his body and paid their last respects.
Singh passed away on Thursday night at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences due to age-related medical complications. He was 92.
Considered the architect of India's economic reforms, Singh served as the prime minister for 10 years between 2004 and 2014.
A seven-day national mourning is being observed throughout the country as a mark of respect to the former prime minister during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the nation, the Union Home Ministry has announced.
Also read: Three decades of economic reforms with Manmohan Singh's Liberalisation
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Live Updates
- 27 Dec 2024 5:36 PM IST
Rajasthan govt announces 7-day state mourning following Manmohan Singh's death
The Rajasthan government has declared seven days of state mourning following the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh.
An order in this regard was issued in compliance with instructions from the Union home ministry.
According to the order, the government has declared seven days of state mourning till January 1 following Singh's death.
During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast and no official entertainment programme will be organised, the order said.
- 27 Dec 2024 5:35 PM IST
Manmohan Singh's values of humility, integrity will continue to inspire generations to come: Mufti
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Friday paid tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying his contributions to the country and his values of humility, integrity, and inclusivity will continue to inspire generations to come.
Mufti and her party paid floral tributes to the former PM at the party headquarters here, where a condolence meeting was also held.
Mufti described Singh as the architect of modern India's economic transformation, recalling his visionary leadership during the liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation reforms that reshaped India in the early 1990s.
"Singh ushered India into a new era, setting the stage for growth and prosperity. From bringing bread and butter to the doorstep of the poorest through schemes like NREGA and the Food Security Act to securing the landmark nuclear deal, and AADHAR, his contributions have touched every Indian," she said.
She said that in 2002, when PDP-Congress were in talks for government formation in J-K, Sonia Gandhi sent him to Kashmir and that was when she met him for the first time.
"I had never seen such a humble and soft-hearted person in my life. Singh had a vital role in forming the alliance at that time and the agenda of the alliance," she added.
The PDP president praised Singh's ability to navigate the country through complex challenges, and remembered his unprecedented public apology as prime minister for the anti-Sikh riots, demonstrating his humility and statesmanship.
"During his tenure of ten years, there was no communal riot anywhere. Today, there is no day when lynchings do not take place, mosques are being demolished, our shawl weavers are harassed outside," she said, adding it was his biggest legacy.
- 27 Dec 2024 5:28 PM IST
Kejriwal, Atishi pay homage to Manmohan Singh at his house
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday paid homage to former prime minister Manmohan Singh at the latter's residence in New Delhi.
Manmohan Singh, whose leadership was defined by compassion and intellect, died in the national capital Thursday night at the age of 92.
Kejriwal said in a post on X, "Paid my last respects to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Met his family during this solemn moment and extended my condolences to them." Singh was a visionary leader whose economic reforms shaped modern India and whose humility touched countless lives, the AAP chief added.
Other AAP leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, also visited Singh's house and paid tributes to his mortal remains.
"Paid last respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and extended my condolences to his family. A brilliant economist with a profound legacy of driving India's transformative economic reforms in the 1990s, he redefined the nation's trajectory at a pivotal moment in history," Atishi said in a post on X.
Singh's contributions to our economic and political systems have left an indelible mark, shaping modern India in ways that will continue to inspire all generations to come, she added.
- 27 Dec 2024 4:31 PM IST
Manmohan Singh's contributions to Bharat will always be remembered: RSS
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday condoled the passing of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying his contributions to Bharat will always be remembered.
"The entire nation is extremely saddened by the demise of former prime minister of Bharat and senior leader of the country Dr Sardar Manmohan Singh. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh expresses its deepest condolences to his family and countless loved ones and admirers," they said in a joint statement.
Singh, despite coming from a humble background, adorned the highest post in the country, the statement said.
"Renowned economist Dr Singh's contributions to Bharat will always be remembered and cherished. We pray the almighty to grant 'sadgati' to the departed soul," they said in the statement.
RSS joint general secretary Alok Kumar later paid floral tribute to the mortal remains of Singh at his residence on 3, Motilal Nehru Road, the sprawling bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi that served as his retirement abode for over 10 years.
Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, passed away on Thursday night at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was 92.
The Congress leader, who steered the country for 10 years from 2004-2014 and helped set up India's economic framework as finance minister before that, was a renowned name in global financial and economic sectors. PTI
- 27 Dec 2024 4:23 PM IST
Manmohan Singh saved India from economic crisis and debt trap: Deve Gowda
Terming former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's death a "great loss" for the nation, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda on Friday credited him with "saving the country" from an economic crisis and preventing it from falling into a "debt trap".
The former Prime Minister described Singh as a simple, honest, and gentlemanly figure.
Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92. He served as the Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao government in 1991, during one of the most critical economic periods in the country's history. He took on the responsibility and did his utmost to save the nation from the economic crises, Gowda said.
Speaking to reporters, he said otherwise, the country would have fallen into a debt trap. "Such was the severity of the situation. To address this, the Narasimha Rao government with Singh as the Finance Minister made the decision to pledge 130 tonnes of gold." Singh then introduced economic reforms such as liberalisation, privatisation, and foreign direct investment, Gowda said, adding that all these initiatives were implemented by him as Finance Minister under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao.
Manmohan Singh was a distinguished economist who worked at the World Bank, served as the Reserve Bank Governor, and acted as an advisor to the Government of India. With his vast experience, he went on to serve the nation for ten years as Prime Minister. His death is a great loss to the nation, he added.
