Former Prime Minister Manmohan SinghParting shot – “History will be kinder to me than the contemporary media.” – The last press conference he addressed in January 2014 before leaving office was heard on Thursday night as condolences poured in following his death, with many of his former cabinet colleagues and UPA allies quoting his words Said that this will actually happen.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin credited Dr Singh for driving India’s economic transformation. “His tenure brought about an era of stable growth, social progress and reforms that improved the lives of millions of people.” Reflecting on DMK’s stable presence in the UPA, he said Dr Singh’s partnership with M Karunanidhi played an important role in furthering the development of Tamil Nadu. “Even during turbulent times, Dr #ManmohanSingh and Thalaivar Kalaignar stood together, exemplifying the strength of coalition politics built on trust and respect for regional identity,” Mr Stalin said.
Obituary Manmohan Singh, the gentleman politician who opened up India’s economy in 1991
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee referred to their tenure in the Union Cabinet, when the two worked closely together. “His erudition and intelligence were unquestionable and the depth of the financial reforms he initiated in the country are widely acknowledged,” she said, adding that she would miss his leadership and affection. She was the Railway Minister in Dr. Singh’s cabinet between 2009 and 2011.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav described Dr. Singh as the father of economic reforms in the country and said that the former Prime Minister presided over a historic period of unprecedented growth and development of the country. His “intellect, patience, foresight, humility and dedication will always be remembered.”
“Undoubtedly, history will judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji!” Senior RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj K. Jha wrote on X. The RJD remained with the UPA for both terms and remained a key ally of the Congress.
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said that Dr Singh’s work from 1991 to 2014 would be remembered as a “golden chapter in the history of India”. “I worked closely with him for many years. I have not met a more humble and self-respecting person than Dr. Singh. He took his scholarship for granted and never took credit for any of his historical achievements.” He said, “I am sure that when we look back at Dr. Singh’s 23 years of active politics, we will see his true contribution.” You will realize.”
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, who has perhaps had the longest association with Dr Singh among his former Cabinet colleagues, praised Dr Singh’s “steely resolve” to remain “soft-spoken, composed and always dignified”.
“His Prime Ministership saw revolutionary laws related to rural employment, tribal rights, reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs, primary education, food security and land acquisition. The India-US nuclear deal was a milestone that enhanced India’s global standing. His prime ministership saw the highest GDP growth rate in the history of the country,” he said.
Manmohan Singh: A life in pictures
Dr. Manmohan Singh resigned the post of Member Secretary of the Planning Commission and assumed the post of Governor of the Reserve Bank of India on September 22, 1982.
Manmohan Singh, the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, met MG Ramachandran, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, at the State Secretariat on March 7, 1983.
(From left) BB Sundaresan, Vice-Chancellor, SL Khurana, Governor of Tamil Nadu and Chancellor of the University of Madras, Manmohan Singh, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and C. Aranganayagam, Education Minister, at the convocation ceremony of the University of Madras. On 10 January 1985.
Lewis T. Preston, then President of the World Bank, with then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Union Finance Minister Manmohan Singh during a lunch meeting in New Delhi on 12 November 1992.
Do you look back at the journey the economy has taken in the three years under his guidance? Or is Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh trying to see what will happen in the future? Image published on 18 July 1994.
Finance Minister Manmohan Singh on his way to Parliament to present the Budget for 1994-95.
Finance Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the 34th meeting of the Advisory Board on Customs and Central Excise in New Delhi on September 14, 1994.
Finance Minister Manmohan Singh finalizing the General Budget for 1995–96 in New Delhi on March 14, 1995.
Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao with his Finance Minister Manmohan Singh during an awards ceremony in New Delhi on April 20, 1995.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi with Manmohan Singh, CPI(M) leader Harikishan Singh Surjeet and CPI leader D. Raja after a meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on January 13, 2002.
Former Finance Minister Manmohan Singh at a meeting with members of the Confederation of Indian Industry on party and election finance in New Delhi on February 22, 2002.
A Congress delegation comprising Ahmed Patel, Manmohan Singh, Kamal Nath and Arjun Singh is seen at the Prime Minister’s house after discussing the situation in Gujarat in New Delhi on February 28, 2002.
On May 19, 2002, then Prime Minister AB Vajpayee and his Home Minister L.K. Advani met then Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence in New Delhi to discuss the security situation.
Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh with Congress President Sonia Gandhi showing letters of support from the Congress and its allies during a press conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on May 19, 2004.
On 22 May 2004, Manmohan Singh took oath as Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 22, 2004.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi during a dinner at his residence in New Delhi on 23 May 2004.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after paying tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru at Shanti Van on the occasion of his 40th death anniversary in New Delhi on May 27, 2004.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the birth centenary celebrations of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in New Delhi on October 2, 2004.
Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Manmohan Singh during a meeting in New Delhi on April 11, 2005, in which the two leaders signed an agreement to resolve border disputes between the two countries.
(From left) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gurcharan Kaur and Congress President Sonia Gandhi during the defense investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 19, 2005.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on 12 June 2009.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the signing ceremony of an MoU for the Dhamanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi link projects in New Delhi on May 3, 2010.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during an event to inaugurate the passenger terminal building of the Kartarpur Corridor, also known as the Integrated Check Post, on the Indian side in Gurdaspur on November 9, 2019 .
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Shri Ramesh said, he practices politics of dialogue, consensus and adjustment even in difficult circumstances. Humility and integrity defined him. “Those who tried to defame him exposed his true colours. Many of the initiatives he took as Prime Minister were marketed, branded and presented as contributions of his successors. But Dr Singh never minded and gave his trademark smile,” he wrote on X.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Sharad Pawar called Mr Singh a “global statesman” whose legacy will inspire future generations.
KT Rama Rao, working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (erstwhile Telangana Rashtra Samithi), who was part of UPA-1, described Dr. Singh as the silent architect of modern India, a visionary, a true intellectual and a compassionate human being and said, “History has indeed been kind to you.” And will be grateful.”
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said that working with Dr Singh was a humbling learning experience.
Former Union Minister and one of the youngest members of Dr Singh’s Cabinet, Sachin Pilot said the former Prime Minister will always be remembered for his intelligence and invaluable contribution to India’s economic growth.
Former colleagues who have now separated from Congress also spoke with affection. Union minister Jitin Prasada, who switched to BJP from Congress, said the country has lost a “scholarly and sensitive” leader. He wrote on X, “I consider myself lucky that I worked closely with Manmohan Singh for a long time.”
published – December 27, 2024 12:15 am IST
