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Informist, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024

 

NEW DELHI - Former prime minister Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday at the age of 92 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Singh was rushed to the emergency department around 2000 IST owing to sudden loss of consciousness and was declared dead nearly two hours later after efforts to revive him failed. 

 

"With profound grief, we inform the demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on Thursday. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 2006 IST. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 2151 IST," AIIMS said in a press release. 

 

Singh, an economist, was the fourth longest-serving prime minister who held office for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014. He was also the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term.

 

Singh was widely hailed as the architect of the 1991 economic reforms. He played a pivotal role as finance minister in 1991 by liberalising Indian economy at the time of crisis. Singh also served as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India, chief economic adviser and head of the Planning Commission. After completing his doctorate in economics from Oxford, Singh worked for the United Nations during 1966-69.

 

Singh's political journey began in 1991 when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. He also served as the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004. 

 

In May 2014, Singh took oath as the first Sikh prime minister of India in the United Progressive Alliance government. His government was re-elected in 2009 Lok Sabha polls and he served as the prime minister till 2014.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of Singh and remembered his interactions with the former prime minister. "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," Modi said on X, formerly Twitter. 

 

"Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible," Modi said. 

 

President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also mourned the demise of Singh. "Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Ji was one of those rare politicians who also straddled the worlds of academia and administration with equal ease. In his various roles in public offices, he made critical contributions to reforming Indian economy. His passing is a great loss to all of us. I pay my respectful homage to one of the greatest sons of Bharat and convey my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers," Murmu said on X. 

 

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi also mourned the demise of the former prime minister. "Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," Rahul Gandhi said on X.

 

According to officials, all government programmes scheduled on Friday have been cancelled and the government will declare national mourning of seven days. Singh's last rites will be held with full state honours, officials said.  End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Reported by Shahid K. Abbas and Kuldeep Singh

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

 

 

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