New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died at the age of 92 at the AIIMS Delhi, the hospital authorities confirmed on Thursday night. According to sources, Singh was admitted in critical condition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his X handle and penned a heart-wrenching post after the former PM's demise. The post read, "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist."
The PM further added, "He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives."
India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic… pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed grief and took to her social media to post the same. It said, "Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did."
"His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents. He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strongwilled and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentle man in the rough world of politics," she added.
Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 26, 2024
His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation… pic.twitter.com/BXA6zHG2Fq
Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi and the BJP national president JP Nadda reached the hospital to check the veteran politician's health state.
Manmohan Singh gained national and international recognition as Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996 in the government headed by then-Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. It was during this time that Singh played a pivotal role in steering the country through a severe economic crisis. With his visionary leadership, he introduced groundbreaking economic reforms, including liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation, that opened up India's economy to the world, leading to substantial growth and transformation in various sectors.
Following his success as Finance Minister, Singh ascended to the position of Prime Minister, where he served two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. His tenure as the Prime Minister was marked by significant progress in India's economic growth, though it was also met with challenges, including issues related to governance, corruption scandals and the political horizon.
Even after stepping down as the Prime Minister in 2014, Singh continued to remain an influential figure in Indian politics. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Assam, where his insights and expertise on economic and international affairs were highly respected. He retired from the Rajya Sabha in April 2024, marking the end of his long and distinguished political career in the Upper House of Parliament. His legacy as a statesman and economist remains central to India's modern economic history.
