New Delhi: Late prime minister P V Narasimha Rao was a "great son of the soil" and he can truly be called the father of economic reforms in India as he had both the vision and the courage to push them forward, Manmohan Singh, who was finance minister in his cabinet, said on Friday.
Singh, while addressing the inaugural function of the year-long birth centenary celebrations of the late prime minister organised by the Congress's Telangana unit, said he is particularly happy that the programme coincides with the presentation of the first budget of Rao's government by him in 1991.
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The 1991 budget is hailed by many as one that laid the foundations of a modern India and the roadmap for pushing economic reforms in the country.
Recalling that he as finance minister in the Narasimha Rao cabinet had dedicated his first budget to the memory of Rajiv Gandhi, Singh said the 1991 budget changed India in many ways as it ushered in economic reforms and liberalisation.
"It was a hard choice and a bold decision and it was possible because prime minister Narasimha Rao gave me the freedom to roll out things after he fully understood what was ailing India's economy at that time," Singh, a former prime minister, said online.
"On this day, while inaugurating his birth centenary celebrations, I pay my humble respects to the man who had the vision and the courage to push these reforms," the Congress leader said, adding that Rao, like former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, had great concern for the country's poor.
Singh also said that Rao was a "friend, philosopher and guide" to him in many ways.
Real tough decisions had to be urgently taken in 1991 as India was faced with a foreign exchange crisis, and with foreign exchange reserves down to about two weeks' imports, it brought the nation to the edge of a precipice, he said.
"But then, politically, it was a big question if one could take hard decisions to meet the challenging situation. It was a precariously placed minority government, which was dependent on outside support for stability. Yet Narasimha Rao ji was able to carry everyone along, convincing them with his conviction. Enjoying his confidence, I went about my job to carry forward his vision," Singh said.
Quoting French poet and novelist Victor Hugo, Singh said he had once said that "no power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come". India's emergence as a major economic power was one such idea, he said.
"There was an arduous journey ahead but it was time to let the whole world know loud and clear that India was wide awake. The rest is history. Looking back, Narasimha Rao can truly be called the father of economic reforms in India," the former prime minister said.
Singh also recalled the political journey of Rao that started from the days of the freedom struggle.