Shillong, Dec 27: Senior Congress leader and former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, passed away on Thursday night, following prolonged illness. He was 92-years-old.
According to a statement by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), he was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at his home on Thursday. He was brought to the emergency ward of AIIMS at New Delhi at 8:06 PM. All measures were taken to resuscitate him but he was decaled dead at 9:51 PM.
Singh was the 13th Prime Minister of India and served from 2004 to 2014.
He is most well-known for carrying out economic reforms in 1991 when he was the Union Finance Minister, which included liberalization of the Indian economy, abolition of the License Raj and clearing the hurdles for increasing the FDI, which ushered in an unprecedented growth of the Indian economy.
Following his demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his social handle to condole the death of the leader and said India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. “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 policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” he wrote on this X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The Congress party also paid rich tribute to Singh, and noted that he leaves behind “a legacy of economic reforms, political stability, and dedication to uplift the lives of every Indian”. It said history will always remember him for his dignified demeanour, commitment to public service, profound wisdom and humility.
“Known for his quiet but resilient leadership, he was a man of principle who made tough decisions with care, concern and a steadfast commitment to nothing but the country’s welfare above all else. As a leader, Dr. Singh rarely sought the spotlight, yet his decisions resonated deeply across every facet of Indian society and beyond. The trust and respect he earned from political allies, adversaries, and world leaders alike is a testament to his profound impact. A statesman, a scholar, a leader, a visionary – one of India’s proudest son – Farewell Sir, you will be deeply missed,” Congress wrote on its X handle.
Given Singh’s immense contribution to India’s growth story and rescuing the nation from an economic crisis in 1991, it is no wonder that former US President Barack Obama described Singh “as a chief architect of India’s economic transformation”.
