Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his several Cabinet colleagues and other political leaders cutting across party lines, wished former PM Manmohan Singh on his 89th birthday on Sunday.
Modi, who arrived in Delhi after concluding a 3-day official visit to the United States, tweeted, “Birthday greetings to our former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Ji. I pray for his long life and wonderful health.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, too, greeted the former Prime Minister on the occasion. “Warm wishes to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh ji on his birthday. May he be blessed with good health and long life,” the Defence Minister said.
Senior Congress leaders greeted the former PM with former party chief Rahul Gandhi saying he has a great understanding of issues facing the country and there is much to learn from him. Singh, a Rajya Sabha member and one of the Congress’s top leaders, turned 89 on Sunday.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former deputy CM Sachin Pilot, also wished the renowned economist. “Best wishes to former PM Dr Manmohan Singh ji on his birthday. Wishing him a long and healthy and happy life. We thank him for his leadership during the UPA,” Gehlot said in his tweet.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to wish birthday greetings Manmohan Singh. ‘I pray for your long and healthy life,” tweeted Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor.
The Congress said Singh’s unbridled commitment to India’s progress - right from the time of being the finance minister to the prime minister to even today - has benefitted every Indian to a scale unimaginable.
In a Facebook post, Rahul Gandhi said, “Happy birthday to Dr Manmohan Singh ji. He is fearless and brilliant with a great understanding of the issues our country has been facing. There is much to learn from him.” “I wish him good health and happiness,” he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, senior leaders Sachin Pilot, Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid, among others, wished Singh on his birthday.