TRIBUTES poured in from various quarters both in India and abroad after the country’s former prime minister Manmohan Singh passed away in a prestigious hospital in New Delhi on Thursday, December 26. He was 92 and had age-related ailments.
Top leaders of the late prime minister’s Indian National Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, paid homage to Singh besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi who called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders”.
Sonia called Singh “the epitome of wisdom, nobility, and humility” and confessed that his death had come as a personal loss.
“He was my friend, philosopher, and guide,” the veteran added.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, said he “lost a mentor and guide”.
Singh, who Modi succeeded in 2014, retired as a parliamentarian in April this year due to health conditions. He had served as the prime minister for two terms starting in 2004. Singh had visited the parliament in a wheelchair last year to take part in a crucial voting, a gesture which was praised by Modi.
Final journey on December 28
The final journey of the former prime minister, one of the rare Congress leaders to lead the country outside the Nehru-Gandhi family, will commence from the All India Congress Committee headquarters on Saturday, December 28. The Congress, which is the main Opposition party, is in talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government about the possibility of setting up a memorial for Singh at the place where his last rites would take place.
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
The central cabinet also mourned Singh’s death and hailed him as an eminent statesman. At a meeting chaired by PM Modi, it observed a two-minute silence.
A seven-day state mourning was also declared in memory of the former PM, who was a noted scholar and economist.
World leaders condole
While leaders from various parties condoled Singh’s death, tributes also came from countries such as the US, Canada, France, Russia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, China, and others.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Singh as a “champion of the US-Indian strategic partnership” and remembered his role as someone who scripted India’s economic rise and advanced the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with the US in 2008. Singh had ignored the risk his government faced after India’s Left, which was in alliance with his party, threatened to withdraw power and cause it to collapse had he gone ahead with the deal.
It may be mentioned here that as the finance minister of India between 1991 and 1996, Singh played an instrumental role in liberalizing the country’s economy, opening the floodgates for speedy growth.
Blinken said the US mourns Singh’s demise and will remember his contribution to bringing the US and India closer together.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Singh an outstanding statesman and recalled the contribution the late leader made in elevating ties between the two time-tested allies in international politics. In a note of condolence, the Russian leader said the late leader had accomplished a lot in boosting India’s economic development and asserting its voice on the world stage.
“He also made a major personal contribution to strengthening friendly ties between our two countries by elevating them to the level of a special and privileged strategic partnership,” the Russian president said.
‘India lost a great man’
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolence, saying “India lost a great man and France a true friend”.
India has lost a great man, and France a true friend, in the person of Dr. Manmohan Singh. He had devoted his life to his country. Our thoughts are with his family and the people of India.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 27, 2024
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed deep grief over Singh’s passing and called him a person of great humility and a visionary leader who was firmly committed to ensuring the welfare of the people of his country.
Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed heartfelt condolences and recalled his talks with the former Indian PM “on matters relating to mutual interest between Nepal and India”.
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hailed Singh for playing a “notable role in improving” bilateral ties between the two neighbours during his stay in power. He also said the late leader will be remembered for his wisdom and gentle demeanour.
Singh, it may be mentioned here, was born in a village in Chakwal district of present-day Pakistan before his family migrated to India after the Partition of 1947.
Beijing also reacted to Singh’s death with the spokesperson of its foreign ministry, Mao Ning, saying at a daily press briefing on Friday, December 27, that China expresses sincere sympathies to the Indian government and people as well as the family of Singh.
South Asians Globally
