Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Malkiarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his birth anniversary and recalled his contribution to the country in various roles.
Modi said in a social media post, “Tributes to former PM Dr Manmohan Singh Ji on his birth anniversary. We recall his contributions to our nation during his long years in public life.”
Singh headed the Congress-led UPA Government between 2004 and 2014, and his tenure as finance minister in the government led by PV Narasimha Rao between 1991 and 1996 is considered an epochal period as India initiated market reforms and loosened State control of the economy.
Born in 1932 in a part of Punjab which is now in Pakistan, Singh rose from a humble background to become a distinguished economist and entered public life later. He died in December last year.
In a social media post, Kharge said they remember the contribution of Singh in nation-building. He was a gentle architect of India’s economic transformation.
“A man of humility and wisdom, he carried himself with quiet dignity, letting his actions speak louder than his words. His vision of economic reforms opened new doors of opportunity, creating a thriving middle class and lifting countless families out of poverty,” the Congress chief said.
He said Singh believed deeply in fairness and inclusivity, ensuring that growth went hand in hand with compassion through welfare measures that touched the lives of millions. His leadership showed us that integrity in public life is not just possible, but powerful, Kharge noted in his post.
Rahul Gandhi, in a separate post, said he pays his humble respects to him. “His unwavering commitment to nation-building, his bold decisions for the poor and marginalised, and his historic contribution to building a strong economy will continue to guide us,” Rahul Gandhi said in his post. “His simplicity, humility, and honesty are a source of inspiration for all of us,” Rahul Gandhi added.
Singh was the country’s prime minister from 2004 to 2014, when he headed the Congress-led UPA Government and was considered the architect of economic reforms in the country.
Singh was the finance minister in the PV Narasimha Rao Government between 1991 and 1996, during whose tenure large-scale economic reforms were initiated and the state’s control on the economy was loosened.
Born in 1932 in Gah of Punjab, now in Pakistan, Singh rose from a humble background to become a distinguished economist and entered public life later. He died in December last year.