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
Also read: Manmohan Singh obit: Father of liberalisation, MGNREGA, and Aadhaar
Also read: Go well, Dr Manmohan Singh; not just history but the present is kinder to you
Live Updates
- 28 Dec 2024 11:12 AM IST
'Real loss for modern India'
#WATCH | Delhi | On the demise of former PM #DrManmohanSingh, Congress MP Manickam Tagore says "This is a real loss for the modern India...He was the architect of modern India 2.0 which Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to establish. He took forward that work in the 21st century and took… pic.twitter.com/BIxcJmO3VT
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2024 - 28 Dec 2024 10:49 AM IST
That 'final journey' begins
The final journey of former Prime Minister Manmohan 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. PTI
- 28 Dec 2024 10:20 AM IST
Congress leaders pay tributes
The mortal remains of Manmohan Singh were brought to the AICC headquarters on Saturday where top Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paid their last respects to him.
Singh's mortal remains were brought to the Congress headquarters from his 3, Motilal Nehru residence in a flower-bedecked vehicle amid tight security. The procession reached the AICC office a little before 9 am.
Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur, their three daughters and other relatives were also present. Kaur also paid her last respects by laying a wreath.
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and several ex-Union ministers were among those who paid tributes to the former PM.
Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu were also there.
- 28 Dec 2024 9:54 AM IST
US President Joe Biden pays tributes to Dr Singh
Mourning the passing of Manmohan Singh, US President Joe Biden has called him “a true statesman” and credited his strategic vision and political courage for the unprecedented level of bilateral cooperation.
Singh, who was India’s prime minister for 10 years from 2004 to 2014 died in New Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92.
"The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister’s strategic vision and political courage,” Biden said in a statement as he and the First Lady, Jill Biden, joined the people of India in grieving the loss of the former prime minister.
“From forging the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, he charted path-breaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations—and the world—for generations to come. He was a true statesman. A dedicated public servant. And above all, he was a kind and humble person,” Biden said.
The outgoing US President said he had the chance to meet Prime Minister Singh as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2008 and as Vice President during his Official State Visit to the United States in 2009.
“He also graciously hosted me in New Delhi in 2013. As we discussed then, the US-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world. And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people,” Biden said.
“During this difficult time, we recommit to this vision to which Prime Minister Singh dedicated his life. And Jill and I send our deepest condolences to former First Lady Gursharan Kaur, their three children, and all the people of India,” Biden said.
- 28 Dec 2024 9:33 AM IST
Dr Singh's mortal remains brought to Congress headquarters
The mortal remains of Manmohan Singh were brought to the Congress headquarters from his residence in a flower-bedecked vehicle on Saturday.
Singh's mortal remains will be kept at the Congress headquarters for party leaders and workers to pay their last respects to him.
The former prime minister's last rites will be held at Nigambodh Ghat and his final journey will begin from the Congress headquarters.
- 28 Dec 2024 8:38 AM IST
Look back how you treated Narasimha Rao: BJP to Congress
BJP slams Congress: The Congress should stop playing dirty politics on the death of Dr Singh. The party should recall how they treated former PM Narasimha Rao after his death. The daughter of Shri Pranab Mukherjee also tweeted how shabbily her father, a former President, was treated by the Congress.
