Former PM Manmohan Singh cremated: Bhutan king, Mauritius foreign minister pay respects

In 2008, as India’s Prime Minister, Singh had visited Bhutan and expressed strong support for the country’s move towards democracy.

On Friday, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay were among those sitting heads of government and state who sent condolences.

As a mark of honour to Singh, both Mauritius and Singapore also announced that their national flags will fly at half-mast at all government offices and institutions on Saturday. In a statement, the Mauritius Prime Minister’s Office said, “Following the passing away of Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of the Republic of India, the public is hereby informed that the Mauritius Flag will be flown at half-mast on all Government buildings until sunset today Saturday 28 December 2024, the day of his funeral.”

Singapore High Commissioner to India H C Wong also said in a post on X: “Singapore flag lowered at half-mast as a show of deep respect to the late PM Shri Dr Manmohan Singh. Our deepest condolences.”

Meanwhile, outgoing US President Joe Biden also paid tributes to Singh in a statement released by the White House, crediting him for forging the India-US nuclear deal, calling him a “true statesman” and a “dedicated public servant”. “The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister’s strategic vision and political courage,” Biden said in a statement.

From forging the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, Singh charted path breaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations — and the world — for generations to come, Biden said. He also recalled meeting Singh as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2008 and as the US vice-president during his official state visit to the US in 2009.

“He also graciously hosted me in New Delhi in 2013. As we discussed then, the US-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world. And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people,” Biden said.

Palestine expressed condolences over the demise of the former PM, calling him a “wise politician and economist, and a humble human being” whose vast experience and contributions elevated India’s global stature.

During his 2008 visit to New Delhi, President Mahmoud Abbas had laid the foundation stone of the chancery-cum-residence complex of the Embassy of Palestine, being built as a gift of the government and the people of India in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, according to the statement.

On Saturday, President Abbas wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, expressing condolences on the demise of Singh, as “a distinguished leader, who dedicated years of service to his country and its people”.

A day earlier, a host of world leaders had come forward to pay glowing tributes to Singh with French President Emmanuel Macron calling him “a true friend” and Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing him as an “outstanding statesman who made a major personal contribution to strengthening friendly ties between the two countries”.