Manmohan Singh Death News Updates: Former PM’s last rites to be held tomorrow at Nigambodh Ghat

Congress Jairam Ramesh said it wasn't clear why the government was unable to find a location for the cremation of former prime minister Manmohan Singh that would "honour his legacy".

The party general secretary in-charge of communications said that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that the cremation of Singh take place at a location where a memorial could be built to honour his legacy.

"The people of our country are simply unable to understand why the Government of India could not find a location for his cremation and memorial that is befitting of his global stature, record of outstanding achievements, and exemplary service to the nation for decades. This is nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh," Ramesh wrote on X.

In the corridors of the Delhi School of Economics (DSE), where ideas often find shape and future leaders are quietly moulded, the memories of former prime minister Manmohan Singh remain deeply etched.

Long before he became the architect of India's economic liberalisation and later, its prime minister, Singh was a professor at the DSE, nurturing minds with the clarity and grace that would go on to define his public life.

The DSE community is in mourning following the demise of Singh, who breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday at the age of 92.

The institution remembers him not just as a celebrated economist and statesman but as one of its own -- a mentor, a colleague and an honorary professor.

He held an overseas bank account that had his earnings from working abroad. The value of his savings, in rupee terms, went up following the July 1991 decision of the government to devalue the Indian currency.

Instead of pocketing the gains, Manmohan Singh, who was the finance minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government at that time, just wrote a cheque for the incremental gains and had it deposited in the Prime Minister National Relief Fund.

Recounting the incident, Ramu Damodaran, who was private secretary to the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, said shortly after the devaluation decision, Manmohan Singh visited the PM's office.

He walked straight into the PM's room from his car, but on the way out, he detoured to come to Damodaran's room.

"Maybe a couple of days after the devaluation. He came for a meeting (with PM), and on the way out, he handed over a small envelope to me and asked me to deposit it in the PM's National Relief Fund," Damodaran told PTI from New York, where he is currently posted as permanent observer for the University for Peace to the United Nations.

The envelope contained a cheque for "a huge amount". "I don't recall the sum mentioned, but it was a significant amount," he said.

“The entire village is in mourning. We feel that someone from our family has died today,” Altaf Hussain told PTI as a group of local residents held a meeting to condole the death of village boy Manmohan who became prime minister next door.

Hussain is a teacher at the same school in Gah village where Manmohan Singh studied up to class 4.

His father Gurmukh Singh was a cloth merchant and his mother Amrat Kaur a homemaker. His friends called him ‘Mohna'.

The village lies about 100 km southwest of capital Islamabad and was part of Jhelum district when Singh was born. But it was included in Chakwal when it was made a district in 1986.

Surrounded by lush green fields, the place can be reached from M-2 motorway linking Islamabad to Lahore, as well as from Chakwal city. The former prime minister died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92. Raja Ashiq Ali, nephew of Raja Muhammad Ali, a schoolmate who travelled to Delhi in 2008 to meet him, addressed the meeting. “All these villagers are deeply moved… They were eager to attend his last rites in India but it is not possible. So they are here to mourn,” he said.

The All India Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, an RSS affiliate, paid tributes to Manmohan Singh and said with the death of the former prime minister the country has lost a great economist who accelerated economic progress of the country.

In a statement, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram's national president Satyendra Singh said the former prime minister will also be remembered for his sensitivity towards the problems of the tribal society.

"He played an important role in enactment of the Forest Rights Act in 2006 to rectify the historical injustice done to the tribal society," he said.

He had also expressed concern over the "exploitation" of the tribal society many times, Singh added. "All India Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram expresses grief over the demise of Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Manmohan Singh and pays emotional tribute to his memory," the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram chief said.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday wrote to the state's Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar, requesting necessary steps to establish a research centre at Bangalore University in honour of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The centre would focus on studying, researching, and documenting Singh's programmes and policies.

Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India's economic reforms, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92.

"Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was one of the world's greatest economists. The globalisation, liberalisation, economic policies, and governance discipline introduced during his tenure made India economically strong," Shivakumar stated, in a note addressed to Sudhakar and the Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University.

-PTI

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday described former prime minister Manmohan Singh as an outstanding statesman and recalled his contribution in elevating India-Russia ties to a 'special and privileged strategic' partnership.

In a condolence message, Putin said Singh accomplished a lot in promoting India's economic development and asserting its interests on the world stage.

The strategic partnership between India and Russia was elevated to the level of 'special and privileged strategic partnership' during the visit of the Russian president to India in December 2010.

Singh, who served as the prime minister from 2004 to 2014 and widely known as the architect of India's economic reforms, died on Thursday night. He was 92.

"As prime minister and when serving in other high-ranking positions, he accomplished a lot in promoting India's economic development and asserting its interests on the world stage," Putin said.

Putin also referred to his conversations with Singh. "I had the occasion of talking with this remarkable man several times. We will cherish the memory of him," he said.

The last rites of former prime minister Manmohan Singh will be conducted at 11:45 am Saturday at the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium in New Delhi with State honours, the Union Home Ministry said.

Singh died Thursday night at the AIIMS here at the age of 92.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a communication on Friday that the Ministry of Defence has been requested to make arrangements for according Singh State funeral with full military honours.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has urged PM Modi to conduct last rites of Manmohan Singh at a place where a memorial can be built.

The last rites are set to be performed at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi at 11:45 AM on Saturday.

-PTI

The last rites of former PM Manmohan Singh will be performed at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi at 11:45 AM on Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

Singh passed away at AIIMS on Thursday.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday said that the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh was a "deeply personal loss". "He was my friend, philosopher and guide. He was so gentle in his manner but so resolute in his deeply held convictions," Gandhi said in a statement released Friday. She further said that Singh's "commitment to social justice, secularism and democratic values was deep and unwavering".

"To spend any time with him, was to come away enlightened by his knowledge and sagacity, moved by his honesty and integrity, and awed by his genuine humility," Gandhi said, adding that Singh leaves a void in our national life that can never be filled. "We in the Congress Party, and the people of India will forever be proud and grateful that we had a leader like Dr Manmohan Singh whose contributions to India's progress and development are immeasurable," she said.

In a statement released on Friday, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh brought brilliance and distinction to every high office that he held, adding that he brought pride and honour to India. "A luminous and beloved guiding light for the Congress party, his compassion and vision transformed and empowered the lives of millions of Indians," Gandhi said. " Respected and admired by leaders and scholars all over the world, he was hailed as a statesman of immense wisdom and stature," she added.

There will be no change of guard ceremony on Saturday owing to the national mourning following the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement issued Friday. "The change of guard ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not take place tomorrow (December 28, 2024) due to national mourning," the statement read. The ceremony is a military tradition held on a Saturday every week to enable a fresh group of the President's Bodyguards to take charge.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that former prime minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh "ushered India into a new era, setting the stage for growth and prosperity", news agency PTI reported. "...From bringing bread and butter to the doorstep of the poorest through schemes like NREGA and the Food Security Act to securing the landmark nuclear deal, and AADHAR, his contributions have touched every Indian," Mufti said.

While speaking about the PDP-Congress talks about Jammu and Kashmir government formation in 2002, Mufti said that Singh played "a vital role in forming the alliance at that time".

"During his tenure of ten years, there was no communal riot anywhere. Today, there is no day when lynchings do not take place, mosques are being demolished, our shawl weavers are harassed outside," PTI quoted Mufti as saying.

The CM Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Rajasthan government on Friday announced a seven-day state mourning till January 1 after the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, news agency PTI reported. The Rajasthan government issued the order in compliance with the directions of the Union Home Ministry.

While recalling former prime minister Manmohan Singh as a leader of "unquestionable integrity", Left leaders on Friday said that he adopted policies that he believer were in the interest of the nation, news agency PTI reported.

"Dr. Manmohan Singh during his ten-year tenure as Prime Minister stood firmly for secular and democratic values. He adopted policies which he believed were in the interests of the country. He was a leader of unquestioned integrity," PTI quoted CPI(M) as saying. The party further conveyed its condolences to Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur and his daughters.

The Congress approached the Centre Friday seeking a resting place for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died on Thursday, along the banks of the Yamuna river in Delhi, where many former PMs have their memorials.

Sources said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has conveyed the party’s desire to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Separately, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal followed it up with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. Read Manoj C G's report here

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday condoled the passing of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying his contributions to Bharat will always be remembered.

"The entire nation is extremely saddened by the demise of former prime minister of Bharat and senior leader of the country Dr Sardar Manmohan Singh. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh expresses its deepest condolences to his family and countless loved ones and admirers," they said in a joint statement.

Singh, despite coming from a humble background, adorned the highest post in the country, the statement said.

Pakistan's former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri recalled fond memories of his association with the late Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who died in Delhi on Thursday night.

Kasuri said that Dr Singh will be remembered in history as a man who devoted himself to the improvement of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Kasuri, 83, who served as Pakistan's foreign minister from November 2002 to November 2007, credited Singh for the creation of a congenial atmosphere in the entire SAARC region.

He said it was best exemplified by Singh's statement that “he looked forward to the day when it would be possible to have breakfast in Amritsar, lunch in Lahore and dinner in Kabul”.

Kasuri said he was lucky to be a part of a process in which unprecedented progress was made during the peace negotiations between the two countries.

He said people-to-people contacts were enhanced tremendously during Singh's tenure as prime minister resulting in the creation of mutual trust between the two governments.

Manmohan Singh preferred his modest Maruti Suzuki 800 over luxury BMWs even when holding the office of prime minister as it reaffirmed his connection with the middle class and commitment to work for the common man.

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Social Welfare (Independent Charge) Asim Arun, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who worked as Singh's chief bodyguard for almost three years recalled them same.

Recalling his role as head of the SPG's Close Protection Team (CPT) for the prime minister, Arun said: "As the AIG CPT, my responsibility was to stay with the prime minister at all times, like his shadow. If only one bodyguard could stay with him, it had to be me." One anecdote Arun shared reflected Singh's simplicity -- his attachment to his personal car, a modest Maruti Suzuki 800.

Despite having a fleet of high-security vehicles, including a luxurious BMW, for official travel, Singh would often express his preference for the modest car.

Arun recalled Singh telling him, "Asim, I don't like travelling in this car (BMW). My car is the Maruti." He said he would explain to Singh the security requirements of the high-tech BMW but the former prime minister's gaze would always turn to the Maruti Suzuki 800 as his motorcade passed by it.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away aged 92 in the national capital on Thursday, had a brush with the justice system when he was summoned as an accused in a coal-block allocation case.

The Supreme Court, however, intervened and stayed the directive.

Singh, an astute economist and a stalwart politician, questioned the absence of the mandated sanction for prosecuting public officials like him, and denied any criminality in his decision concerning the coal block allocation.

His appeal in the top court challenged a trial court's March 2015 order that summoned him as an accused in the alleged irregularities over the allotment of Talabira-II coal block to Hindalco.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and other senior leaders gathered at the CPED ground in Belagavi to pay their last respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Indian flag at half-mast at President House, after the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on Friday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Former PM Manmohan Singh's Department of Economics at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Singh passed away on Thursday night.

Shankersinh Vaghela, the former Gujarat CM and a Union minister in the first Manmohan Singh Cabinet of 2004, described the late prime minister as "extremely humble".

"In the first Cabinet meeting, I suggested there should be transparency and right to information and I thank him for introducing the Right to Information Act in 2005. He gave transparency to the people. As an expert economist, he and Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia (then deputy chairman of the Planning Commission) saved the country from the 2008 recession.

Vaghela quit the Congress in 2017, and has recently launched a new party.

Arjun Modhwadia, BJP MLA from Porbandar and a former Congress leader, described the former PM as a "father figure" to him and a "great human being who understood the pain of our country".

"As a person, he was like a father and guide to me", said Modhwadia.

Paying tribute to the former prime minister, French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X, "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."

Activist Anna Hazare, who led an agitation against Dr Manmohan Singh's government, said about the former prime minister, "Manmohan Singh always thought about the country. He had a big contribution in changing this country's economy. I was heading an agitation against corruption when he was the PM. I met him couple of times at his residence in Delhi and he was quick to take decisions. Today, Manmohan Singh has passed away, but his memories will always be alive."

Former PM Manmohan Singh's mortal remains will be taken to the AICC headquarters in Delhi at 8 am tomorrow, December 28, where public and Congress workers will be able to pay their final respects to the veteran politician.

Dr Singh's last rites will commence at 9:30 am tomorrow, when his mortal remains will be taken from the AICC HQ to the cremation ground.

In an official statement, the Union Cabinet condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and paid homage to the veteran political leader by observing two minutes of silence.

The Cabinet said that state mourning will be observed for seven days till January 1, 2025, during which the National Flag will be flown half-mast throughout the country.

"Dr. Manmohan Singh will be accorded State Funeral. On the day of State Funeral, a half day holiday will be declared in all the Central Government offices and CPSUs," the statement said.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "On behalf of my party, I pay homage to former PM Manmohan Singh. It is a fact that he was a refugee of Partition and progressed in his life through hard work. I believe he was the first PM of India who worked to uplift the marginalised section of people, particularly the Muslims. The nation has certainly lost its special son."

Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, Sunny Deol, Manoj Bajpayee and other film stars on Friday condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, remembering him as a visionary and a great statesman.

"India has lost one of its most eminent statesmen and scholars. The passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh marks the end of an era in Indian polity. A man of quiet dignity, he reshaped the nation through his visionary economic and social policies.

"Few have influenced the nation's trajectory with such far-reaching impact. His policies, both as Finance Minister and Prime Minister, empowered millions, strengthening the fabric of Indian democracy and uplifting the most vulnerable," Haasan posted.

Chiranjeevi said he is anguished by the passing away of Singh, who was a "highly educated, most graceful, soft spoken and humble leader". (PTI)

Mourning the loss of Dr Manmohan Singh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "We lost a great economist in the world. As a Finance Minister and PM, he made India stand on the world platform in terms of economy...his came from a normal family and achieved the highest position."

In view of the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has cancelled all his pre-decided programmes for Friday.

An official release from the Chief Minister's Office said that as a national level state mourning has been announced, all the programmes of the CM for Friday have been cancelled.

In 2011 in a scathing attack at the UPA government, Sushma Swaraj quoted poet Shahab Jafri and said, " Tu idhar udhar ki na baat kar, yeh bata ki kafila kyun luta, humein rahjano se gila nahi, teri rahbari ka sawal hai . (Instead of talking about irrelevant issues, tell us why the caravan was looted. I have no complaint against the robbers but I question your leadership)."

Manmohan Singh, in his classic understated manner, responded to Swaraj echoing a verse of Allama Iqbal, "Mana ki teri deed ke kaabil nahin hoon main, tu mera shauq dekh mera intezar dekh. (Agreed I am not worthy of drawing your sight. But look at my zeal, my longing).”

PM Modi, while paying tribute to former PM Manmohan Singh, said, "Dr Manmohan Singh's loyalty as an MP is inspirational. On important occasions, he used to come to Parliament in a wheelchair and do his duty as an MP. He also maintained ties and kept in touch with leaders from other parties."

The prime minister further said that during his tenure as the chief minister of Gujarat, he used to interact with then-PM Dr Singh on various occasions and discussed national and international issues.

In a short clip posted by PMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Dr Manmohan Singh and hailed his political career as an economist, Finance Minister, and Prime Minister.

PM Modi said, "We all are deeply saddened by the demise of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. His passing is a setback to the whole nation...his life is an example for future generations regarding how we can rise above struggles and achieve greater heights. He will always be remembered as an honest man, a great economist and a leader who dedicated himself to reforms. As an economist, he provided a lot of services to the nation. During a challenging time, he served as RBI Governor...when he was Finance Minister in the cabinet of former PM Bharat Ratna PV Narasimha Rao, he gave the country that was reeling under economic crisis, a new direction in terms of economy."

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi arrived at Dr Manmohan Singh's residence on Friday morning to pay their last respects to the former prime minister. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also arrived at Dr Singh's Delhi residence to pay his tribute to the veteran leader.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, in a tribute to Dr Manmohan Singh, posted on X, "Remembering the selfless contributions of our dear friend and former prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who set in motion an historic chapter in U.S.-India relations. His dedication to India's growth and prosperity continues to inspire us. Grateful for his leadership and vision."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda, among other senior politicians, reached Dr Manmohan Singh's residence in Delhi on Friday morning to pay their final respects to the former prime minister.

Dr Singh's mortal remains will be taken to the AICC headquarters on Saturday, December 28, and his last rites will be performed near Rajghat.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted on X, "Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents."

The Congress leader described Dr Singh as "egalitarian, wise, strongwilled and courageous" until the end, saying that he was a "dignified and gentle man" in the rough world of politics.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not just the leader who brought the 1991 economic reforms to the country, but also a game-changer when it comes to India's growing nuclear standing.

Dr Singh was the man behind the Indo-US nuclear deal, with our country finally being perceived as a "trusted" partner for the West. Read more.

The world came together on Thursday night to pay tributes as Dr Manmohan Singh, who is credited for opening up India’s economy and taking it to a global stage, passed away at the age of 92.

He was admitted to AIIMS New Delhi after his health suddenly deteriorated after a “sudden loss of consciousness”.

His death has been covered worldwide with media outlets dubbing him as the “reluctant king” and the “architect of economic reform” in India. Read more.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's mortal remains will be brought to the AICC headquarters tomorrow, December 28, where people will pay their last respects. His last rites will take place near Rajghat.

I came to know Dr Manmohan Singh during his first term as Prime Minister when he, on the advice of Montek Ahluwalia, appointed me as an economic advisor. Over the years since then, through my term as RBI governor and after, I had the privilege of interacting with him periodically.

Dr Singh was a brilliant economist with an ambitious vision of what a liberal India could be, combined with a fine sense of what was possible politically. He was understated and soft spoken, which allowed him to attract the best and the brightest, ranging from Montek Singh Ahluwalia to C Rangarajan, to his team. The liberalisation and reforms he undertook with the support of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao laid the foundations of the modern Indian economy, and spurred the decades of robust growth we still enjoy. Read more.

On an official tour to the US in 2011, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was on his flight back from New York after a UNGA session on September 26 -- his birthday.

A sugar-free cake for the PM was ready and loaded on Air India One but he had politely said no to any on-board celebrations.

Finally, after take-off, when he walked over to the media section to greet journalists, The Indian Express' Ritu Sarin was asked by a member of the official delegation to try and persuade him.

"The Prime Minister shyly acquiesced and requested me to do the honours — slices of the Prime Minister’s birthday cake were passed around as we wished him a happy birthday," she writes.

READ THE FULL PIECE HERE

After former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away aged 92 on Thursday, leaders across the political spectrum paid heartfelt tributes, remembering him for his integrity, intellect, and transformative policies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, saying, “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, 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,” Modi said. Read More

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a game-changer in India’s foreign policy and strategic heft as he led India’s global reputation in ways very few Indian PMs have done in the last seven decades.

In the post-Cold War era, Singh ushered in India’s global standing through the Indo-US nuclear deal. That was India’s moment in the sun, and Singh at that time staked his government’s survival for the nuclear deal.

Since 2008, when the Indo-US nuclear deal was signed, India’s collaboration and cooperation with the world, especially the West, increased because of the trust that the deal generated. Singh developed a rapport with then US President George W Bush, who was told by the Indian PM that Indians loved him (Bush). The cooperation with Japan, France, Australia, Germany and others increased because of the nuclear deal that ended the technology-denial regime with India. Read Full Report

In early 2016, a few months before the country marked 25 years of its famous economic reforms, one of the key architects of liberalisation and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shed a bit of his usual reticence at the end of a session at his New Delhi home. Asked why he chose not to write a memoir, considering that he had held top jobs in the country — chief economic advisor, economic affairs secretary, RBI Governor, Planning Commission deputy chairman, Finance Minister, and then head of the government — his response was: “The truth hurts. And I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

If at all anyone got close to getting him to open up a bit on his life, it was his daugher Daman Singh, who wrote about her parents in ‘Strictly Personal: Manmohan and Gurshararn’. As Singh famously said at his last press conference before stepping down as Prime Minister after a decade in that job, history would perhaps be kind to him. Read Full Report

Manmohan Singh underlined social justice as his govt's priority when he first took over as PM, in his final speeches, he hoped for a more balanced debate on corruption, despaired over lack of parliamentary discourse.

June 24, 2004: First Address to the Nation as PM

“Gandhiji had said that his mission in life was ‘to wipe every tear from every eye’… That message of Bapu resonates in our ears as we settle down to the business of government…

There have been impressive gains in terms of the educational and health status of the nation (since Independence). However, the benefits of this performance have not touched all our citizens in equal measure. Growth is not an end in itself. It is a means to generate employment, banish poverty, hunger and homelessness and improve the standard of living of the mass of our people. Read In Full

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying rich tribute to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who died Thursday night.

Cutting across parties, leader after leader described Singh’s passing as a loss to the nation, hailing him as one of its most distinguished leaders.

Officials said the Union government has declared a seven-day mourning for Singh and cancelled all government programmes scheduled for Friday.

The Cabinet, officials said, will meet at 11 am Friday to pay tribute to Singh. His last rites will be conducted with full state honours. Read Full Report

While Manmohan Singh will be remembered for many things, his lasting legacy as Prime Minister of India will be implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. His demise comes as the RTI Act enters its 20th year of implementation, as a weapon in the hands of ordinary citizens that no politician can take on publicly, even if they choose to blunt it.

The RTI Bill was introduced in Parliament in December 2004, and was passed by the Lok Sabha on May 11, 2005, and by the Rajya Sabha the next day. During the debate on the legislation, Singh told the Lok Sabha: “The passage of this Bill will see the dawn of a new era in our processes of governance, an era of performance and efficiency, an era which will ensure that benefits of growth flow to all sections of our people, an era which will eliminate the scourge of corruption, an era which will bring the common man’s concern to the heart of all processes of governance, an era which will truly fulfill the hopes of the founding fathers of our Republic.”

The legislation was in fact first brought by Singh’s predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in 2002 as the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. However, the Vajpayee government did not frame the rules for it, and hence the Act never got implemented. Read Full Report

For months now, Dr Manmohan Singh’s failing health and the need for him to rest were a refrain among his staff when they regretted scheduling any meeting or interview. But the former Prime Minister himself was meticulous about replying to all requests on e-mail. In one such reply this year, he wrote to this reporter: “I regret because of my ill-health I will not be able to record an interview, for the time being.”

“For the time being,” it held out hope — and promise.

That was Singh, generous not only for the time being but forever.

In the nation’s capital where leaders have little patience — or the need — to worry about who’s being rubbed the wrong way, Singh was an exception. Indeed, days before G20 when many in his party mocked the “show,” in an interview to The Indian Express, Singh, gently yet firmly, underlined the significance of the moment. In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, he said, India has a “pivotal role” in “steering” the new world order and has “done the right thing in putting its sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace.” Singh said that he was “more optimistic about India’s future than worried,” but that optimism is “contingent on India being a harmonious society.”

This natural inclination for nuance wasn’t just an expression of humility — it was the hallmark of a leadership with depth and breadth.

I remember the afternoon of May 22, 2004, when his name was announced by the Congress party for prime ministership. Security was being strengthened outside his residence but having persuaded his wife Gursharan Kaur to give The Indian Express an interview, we got some time with him.

“I will need everybody’s help for the task ahead,” he said, his hands folded. Gursharan Kaur shared some pictures from their family album. The next day, Manmohan Singh took charge of what would be two full terms of a historic and tumultuous prime ministerial tenure. Read More

After former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away aged 92 on Thursday, leaders across the political spectrum paid heartfelt tributes, remembering him for his integrity, intellect, and transformative policies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, and Rahul Gandhi said he had lost a mentor.

Read the full report here

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh's body taken out from the AIIMS Hospital, Delhi. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is extremely sad.

Shah recounted that Singh played important parts as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India, the finance minister of the country and later as the Prime Minister.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said India lost a great scholar, economist & statesman with the demise of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh.

His contributions in Indian economic reforms, serving our nation as PM for 10 years, will be remembered forever, Fadnavis said.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath called the demise of former Prime Minister and renowned economist Manmohan Singh an irreparable loss to Indian politics.

Adityanath said as Finance Minister and Prime Minister, Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. "I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed soul and give strength to his bereaved family and supporters to bear this immense sorrow," Adityanath wrote on X.

Punjab was the first love of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who passed away at AIIMS on Thursday.

During his tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Punjab was governed by the Opposition SAD-BJP alliance, led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, from 2007 to 2017. Despite the political divide, Punjab did not face any discrimination in terms of funds or projects, as recalled by officials in the Punjab government.

“The then CM Badal would meet Dr Manmohan Singh whenever he visited Delhi,” said HS Bains, Badal’s former media advisor.

“Badal would often secure an appointment with him on the same day, bypassing the formalities usually required for meeting the Prime Minister. Dr Manmohan Singh, a renowned economist, would sometimes approve grants or projects with a smile, saying, ‘This is an excess on the exchequer.’”

While Manmohan Singh will be remembered for many things, his lasting legacy as Prime Minister of India will be implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

His demise comes as the RTI Act enters its 20th year of implementation, as a weapon in the hands of ordinary citizens that no politician can take on publicly, even if they choose to blunt it.

During the debate on the legislation, Singh told the Lok Sabha: “The passage of this Bill will see the dawn of a new era in our processes of governance, an era of performance and efficiency, an era which will ensure that benefits of growth flow to all sections of our people...”

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Odisha CM and BJP leader Mohan Charan Majhi recalled the dedication, integrity, and calm leadership of Manmohan Singh.

"May Mahaprabhu Jagannath bless his soul and grant him eternal peace," he wrote on X.

Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal chief minister and chief of Trinamool Congress, expressed her profound sadness and says she's "stunned" by the sudden demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"I had worked with him and saw him from very close quarters in the Union Cabinet. His erudition and wisdom were unquestionable, and the depth of the financial reforms ushered in by him in the country are widely acknowledged . The country will miss his stewardship and I shall miss his affection," Singh wrote.

“It was the happiest period of my life.” That’s how Dr Manmohan Singh remembered his days at Panjab University (PU) and Hindu College, Amritsar, where the foundation of his extraordinary journey that would make him one of India’s most respected leaders was laid.

As the university’s most illustrious alumnus post-Independence, Singh was celebrated for his intellect and humility. But he often credited his success to mentors like Dr S B Rangnekar, who headed the university’s Economics Department. Singh, who joined the department in Hoshiarpur in 1952, said Rangnekar inspired him to pursue further studies at Cambridge University.

What else did Manmohan Singh say about his time at Panjab University. Read here

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says he's deeply saddened by the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"It was during his tenure as PM that I became the CM of Karnataka for the first time. His encouragement of our budgetary measures and the influence of landmark UPA policies like the Right to Food Act shaped Karnataka's progress and welfare initiatives, he wrote on X.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Manmohan Singh.

Calling him a "distinguished statesman committed to the values of secularism and democracy", the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Singh's family and loved ones.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said he was deeply grieved at the passing away of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Jaishankar recalled his time working with the noted economist and said while Singh was regarded as the architect of Indian economic reforms, "he was equally responsible for the strategic corrections to our foreign policy".

In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, India has a “pivotal role” in “steering” the new world order and has “done the right thing in putting its sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace,” former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said.

In an exclusive interview to The Indian Express ahead of the G20 summit that begins Saturday, Manmohan Singh said that he was “more optimistic about India’s future than worried,” but that optimism is “contingent on India being a harmonious society.”

Read what Singh said about the challenges he pointed out

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was the architect of economic reforms, shaping modern India, opened its doors to the world with intellect, grace, and integrity, industry leaders Gautam Adani and Harsh Goenka said on Thursday.

Mourning the death of Singh, who passed away this evening, Adani in a post on X said: "History will forever honour his pivotal role in the transformative 1991 reforms that reshaped India and opened its doors to the world."

Similarly in a post on X, RPG Enterprise Chairman Harsh Goenka wrote, "India mourns the loss of Dr. Manmohan Singh, a true statesman whose quiet demeanour belied his transformative impact.".

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra in a tweet on X said: "Farewell Dr. Manmohan Singh. You loved this nation. And your service to it will long be remembered".

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited, posted on X: "Manmohan Singh, 2-Time PM And Architect Of India's Economic Reforms, Dies At 92 - He was an erudite economist and a man of high integrity. A PM to whom we owe our economic turnaround."

-PTI

Born in a village in undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan, former prime minister Manmohan Singh's family witnessed first-hand the tragic Partition and he often spoke of communal harmony in his long public life.

He was born in Gah in Punjab province's western region, which now falls in Pakistan.

According to his profile on the website -- pmindia.gov, "Dr Singh completed his matriculation examinations from the Punjab University in 1948. His academic career took him from Punjab to the University of Cambridge, UK, where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957." Singh followed this with a D.Phil in Economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962.

He served two terms as India's prime minister from 2004 to 2014.

A man of few words, but immense wisdom, he often spoke of communal harmony and democratic values that are at the core of India as a nation.

At an event in Amritsar in 2004 marking the 400th anniversary of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, he had recalled his roots.

"The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, touched an emotional cord while addressing a mammoth gathering in Amritsar, recalling his roots and paying tributes to the teachings of Guru Garnth Sahib," reads a September 2004 statement carried on the website -- archivepmo.nic.in.

In his speech, then then prime minister had underlined that there could be "no better way" to honour the holy text than to abide in practice by its teachings of "living in peace with one another".

In his first address to the nation as PM on June 24, 2004, Manmohan Singh said “Gandhiji had said that his mission in life was ‘to wipe every tear from every eye’… That message of Bapu resonates in our ears as we settle down to the business of government…"

Cut to May 17, 2024, in his final address as an occupant of the PM's office, Singh said "I wish the incoming government every success as it embarks on its task and pray for even greater successes for our Nation. "

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With the demise of Manmohan Singh, an extremely full and extraordinarily distinguished life has ended, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

Remembering the various roles he served in: Chief Economic Adviser, Finance Secretary, Governor RBI, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Finance Minister, and Prime Minister of India, Ramesh said Singh had a steely resolve.

"He was the technocratic transformer of the Indian economy through his 1991, 1992, and other budgets. His Prime Ministership saw revolutionary legislation relating to rural employment, tribal rights, reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs, primary education, food security, and land acquisition. The Indo-US nuclear agreement was a landmark that enhanced India's global status," Ramesh wrote.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar called the demise of former Prime Minister of the country, Dr Manmohan Singh, "an irreparable loss for Indian politics".

Calling him a skilled politician, Kumar said Under Manmohan Singh's leadership, India's economy got a new direction.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah expressed his sadness after hearing the news of former PM Manmohan Singh's demise.

"I had many occasions to interact & learn from him. He was truly an intellectual giant, an accomplished economist but above all he was a thorough gentleman, a giant among pygmies," Abdullah wrote on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a heartfelt tribute to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, describing him as “one of India’s most distinguished leaders” whose legacy will endure in the nation’s history.

“Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist,” Modi said, reflecting on Singh’s transformative role in shaping India’s economic policies.

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If India Inc is so confident today, much of it is owed to Manmohan Singh, who as Finance Minister in 1991 initiated broad-based economic reforms and opened up India to the world.

Despite opposition within, he moved on with the full backing of then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao; and even then he did so cautiously, sensitising people along the way on the need to revisit old orthodoxies.

As he signed off after his second term as the Prime Minister in 2014, he signed off saying “history will be kinder to me”.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Manmohan Singh led the country with integrity.

With Singh's demise, I have lost a mentor, Gandhi said.

The Congress has cancelled its “Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Rally” that was scheduled to be held in Belgaum, Karnataka tomorrow.

@INCKarnataka will be holding a condolence meeting in remembrance of Dr. Manmohan Singh tomorrow, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala wrote on X.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Manmohan Singh, the former PM and noted economist, "led India with immense wisdom and integrity.

Gandhi referenced Singh's humility and said the latter's deep understanding of economics inspired the nation.

"My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," Gandhi said.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was admitted to AIIMS Delhi in a critical condition. The crowds outside the establishment started to swell as news spread. (Express Photo)

Manmohan Singh had a regret. Speaking to The Indian Express on 25 years of the 1991 reforms, the former PM said we "act only when there is a crisis".

Reflecting on the reforms that he, working with Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, set in motion, Singh opened up to The Indian Express, in a rare conversation earlier this year, as he mapped the road ahead: opposition from within, role of the Prime Minister’s “political management,” fear of “blood and tears,” and the crying “need to revisit old orthodoxies.”

Read the full interview here

Dr Manmohan Singh, the 14th Prime Minister of India, who was widely acknowledged as the architect of the country’s economic reforms, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday.

He was 92.

Singh was on Thursday evening admitted to the emergency department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where he breathed his last, the hospital confirmed.

Read more here

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress parliamentarian, said that few people in politics “inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh did”.

Vadra was one of the first leaders to reach AIIMS on Thursday night.

Singh was admitted to the hospital around 8 PM in a critical condition.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that former PM Manmohan Singh's immense contribution" to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of history".

Singh was a man of action rather than words, Kharge said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoles the passing away of Manmohan Singh. In a post on X, Modi said the country was mourning the loss of "one of its most distinguished leaders".

His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives, Modi wrote.

Dr Manmohan Singh, the two-time Indian prime minister and a noted economist who ushered in the landmark reforms of 1991 during his stint as the finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government, passed away in Delhi on Thursday.

He was 92.

Dr Singh was admitted to the emergency department on Thursday night and was reportedly in a critical condition.